Benzylpropargylether as nitrification inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the use of compounds of formula (I) for reducing nitrification and to compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I) and to agricultural mixtures comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and at least one fertilizer. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for reducing nitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus or soil or soil substituents where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with a compound of formula (I) or a composition comprising a compound of formula (I).

This application is a National Stage application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP2015/076554, filed Nov. 13, 2015. This applicationalso claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European PatentApplication No. 14193313.5, filed Nov. 14, 2014; European PatentApplication No. 14200097.5, filed Dec. 23, 2014, and European PatentApplication No. 15170534.0, filed Jun. 3, 2015.

The present invention relates to novel nitrification inhibitors offormula I. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of compounds offormula I as nitrification inhibitors, i.e. for reducing nitrification,as well as agrochemical mixtures and compositions comprising thenitrification inhibitors. Further encompassed by the present inventionare methods for reducing nitrification, said methods comprising thetreatment of plants, soil and/or loci where the plant is growing or isintended to grow with said nitrification inhibitors and methods fortreating a fertilizer or a composition by applying said nitrificationinhibitor.

Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth and reproduction.About 25% of the plant available nitrogen in soils (ammonium andnitrate) originate from decomposition processes (mineralization) oforganic nitrogen compounds such as humus, plant and animal residues andorganic fertilizers. Approximately 5% derive from rainfall. On a globalbasis, the biggest part (70%), however, is supplied to the plant byinorganic nitrogen fertilizers. The mainly used nitrogen fertilizerscomprise ammonium compounds or derivatives thereof, i.e. nearly 90% ofthe nitrogen fertilizers applied worldwide is in the NH₄ ₊ form(Subbarao et al., 2012, Advances in Agronomy, 114, 249-302). This is,inter alia, due to the fact that NH₄ ₊ assimilation is energeticallymore efficient than assimilation of other nitrogen sources such as NO₃ ⁻.

Moreover, being a cation, NH₄ ₊ is held electrostatically by thenegatively charged clay surfaces and functional groups of soil organicmatter. This binding is strong enough to limit NH₄ ₊ -loss by leachingto groundwater. By contrast, NO₃ ⁻ , being negatively charged, does notbind to the soil and is liable to be leached out of the plants' rootzone. In addition, nitrate may be lost by denitrification which is themicrobiological conversion of nitrate and nitrite (NO₂ ⁻ ) to gaseousforms of nitrogen such as nitrous oxide (N₂O) and molecular nitrogen(N₂).

However, ammonium (NH₄ ₊ ) compounds are converted by soilmicroorganisms to nitrates (NO₃ ⁻ ) in a relatively short time in aprocess known as nitrification. The nitrification is carried outprimarily by two groups of chemolithotrophic bacteria, ammonia-oxidizingbacteria (AOB) of the genus Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter, which areubiquitous component of soil bacteria populations. The enzyme, which isessentially responsible for nitrification is ammonia monooxygenase(AMO), which was also found in ammonia-oxidizing archaea (Subbarao etal., 2012, Advances in Agronomy, 114, 249-302).

The nitrification process typically leads to nitrogen leakage andenvironmental pollution. As a result of the various losses,approximately 50% of the applied nitrogen fertilizers are lost duringthe year following fertilizer addition (see Nelson and Huber;Nitrification inhibitors for corn production (2001), National CornHandbook, Iowa State University).

As countermeasures the use of nitrification inhibitors, mostly togetherwith fertilizers, was suggested. Suitable nitrification inhibitorsinclude biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs) such as linoleicacid, alpha-linolenic acid, methyl p-coumarate, methyl ferulate, MHPP,Karanjin, brachialacton or the p-benzoquinone sorgoleone (Subbarao etal., 2012, Advances in Agronomy, 114, 249-302). Further suitablenitrification inhibitors are synthetic chemical inhibitors such asNitrapyrin, dicyandiamide (DCD), 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP),4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC), 1-amido-2-thiourea (ASU),2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM),5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,4-thiodiazole (terrazole), or2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST) (Slangen and Kerkhoff, 1984, Fertilizerresearch, 5(1), 1-76).

Furthermore, pyrazole-based nitrification inhibitors have beendescribed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,690, WO 2011/009572, WO2011/015305, DE 10 2011 120 098, and DE 10 2013 022 031 B3.

However, many of these nitrification inhibitors have disadvantages, e.g.in terms of their environmental safety, and therefore need to bereplaced.

Furthermore, the world population is expected to grow significantly inthe next 20-30 years, and, therefore, food production in sufficientquantities and quality is necessary. In order to achieve this, the useof nitrogen fertilizers would have to double by 2050. For environmentalreasons, this is not possible, since nitrate levels in drinking water,eutrophication of surface water and gas emissions into the air havealready reached critical levels in many places, causing watercontamination and air pollution. However, fertilizer efficiencyincreases significantly and less fertilizer may therefore be applied, ifnitrification inhibitors are used. Therefore, there is a clear need fornovel nitrification inhibitors, as well as for methods using them.

In particular, there is a need for nitrification inhibitors with a highactivity.

Furthermore, there is a need for nitrification inhibitors which areeffective at low amounts, as low application rates typically result ineconomical and environmental advantages.

It was already discovered more than 30 years ago that acetylene is apotent nitrification inhibitor. However, as acetylene is a gas, it hasnever gained any practical value as a nitrification inhibitor. G. W.McCarty et al. describe the inhibition of nitrification in soil byacetylenic compounds, such as phenylacetylene (Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.,vol. 50, 1986, pp. 1198-1201). Phenylacetylene is also described asnitrification inhibitor in U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,581 A.

However, phenylacetylene does not satisfy the present needs e.g. interms of a high activity at a low application rate.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide improvednitrification inhibitors in view of the prior art.

The present invention addresses this need and relates to a novelnitrification inhibitor of formula I

-   or a stereoisomer, salt, tautomer or N-oxide thereof,-   wherein-   R¹ and R² are independently of each other selected from the group    consisting of H, C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₂-C₆-alkenyl, C₂-C₆-alkynyl,    C₁-C₆-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl C₁-C₆-alkoxy,    C₂-C₆-alkenyloxy, C₂-C₆-alkynyloxy, wherein the C-atoms may in each    case be unsubstituted or may carry 1, 2 or 3 identical or different    substituents R^(e);    -   C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl, aryl,        hetaryl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl,        C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, heterocyclyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl,        aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, and he-taryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, phenoxy and        benzyloxy, wherein the cyclic moieties may in each case be        unsubstituted or may carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 identical or        different substituents R^(a);-   A is phenyl, wherein said phenyl ring may be unsubstituted or may    carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 identical or different substituents R^(A);-   wherein-   R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of CN, halogen, NO₂,    OR^(b), NR^(c)R^(d), C(Y)R^(b), C(Y)OR^(b), C(Y)NR^(c)R^(d),    S(Y)_(m)R^(b), S(Y)_(m)OR^(b),    -   C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₂-C₆-alkenyl, C₂-C₆-alkynyl, C₁-C₆-haloalkyl,        C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, wherein the C-atoms may in each        case be unsubstituted or may carry 1, 2 or 3 identical or        different substituents R^(e);    -   C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl, aryl,        hetaryl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl,        C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, heterocyclyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl,        aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, and he-taryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, phenoxy and        benzyloxy, wherein the cyclic moieties may be unsubstituted or        may carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 identical or different substituents        R^(a);-   and wherein-   R^(a) is selected from CN, halogen, NO₂, C₁-C₄-alkyl,    C₁-C₄-haloalkyl and C₁-C₄-alkoxy; or two substituents R^(a) on    adjacent C-atoms may be a bridge selected from CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂,    OCH₂CH₂CH₂, CH₂OCH₂CH₂, OCH₂CH₂O, OCH₂OCH₂, CH₂CH₂CH₂, CH₂CH₂O,    CH₂OCH₂, O(CH₂)O, SCH₂CH₂CH₂, CH₂SCH₂CH₂, SCH₂CH₂S, SCH₂SCH₂,    CH₂CH₂S, CH₂SCH₂, S(CH₂)S, and form together with the C atoms, to    which the two R^(a) are bonded to, a 5-membered or 6-membered    saturated carbocyclic or heteocyclic ring;-   R^(b) is selected from H, C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₂-C₄-alkenyl, C₂-C₄-alkynyl,    C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, phenyl and benzyl;-   R^(c) and R^(d) are independently of each other selected from the    group consisting of H, C₁-C₄-alkyl, and C₁-C₄-haloalkyl; or-   R^(c) and R^(d) together with the N atom to which they are bonded    form a 5- or 6-membered, saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, which    may carry a further heteroatom being selected from O, S and N as a    ring member atom and wherein the heterocycle may be unsubstituted or    may carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 substituents which are independently of    each other selected from halogen;-   R^(e) is selected from CN, halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl,    C₁-C₄-alkoxy, and C₁-C₄-haloalkoxy;-   Y is O or S; and-   m is 0, 1 or 2.

The inventors surprisingly found that by applying the compound offormula I as defined herein the nitrification of ammonium to nitratecould significantly be reduced.

Thus, in one aspect the present invention relates to the use of anitrification inhibitor for reducing nitrification, wherein saidnitrification inhibitor is a compound of formula I as defined herein. Ina preferred embodiment of said use, in said compound of formula I, theradicals R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), and R^(e) are defined as follows:

R^(a) is selected from halogen, C₁-C₂-alkyl, C₁-C₂-alkoxy, or twosubstituents R^(a) on adjacent C-atoms may be a OCH₂CH₂O bridge or aO(CH₂)O bridge;

R^(b) is selected from H, C₁-C₆-alkyl, phenyl and benzyl;

R^(c) and R^(d) are independently of each other selected from the groupconsisting of H, C₁-C₄-alkyl, and C₁-C₄-haloalkyl; and

R^(e) is selected from halogen and C₁-C₄-alkyl.

In another preferred embodiment of said use, in said compound of formulaI, R¹ and R² are independently of each other selected from the groupconsisting of H, C₂-C₆-alkynyl, C₂-C₆-alkynyloxy, aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, andhetaryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, wherein preferably at least one of R¹ and R² is H.

In yet another preferred embodiment of said use, in said compound offormula I, A is phenyl, wherein said phenyl ring is unsubstituted orcarries 1, 2, or 3 identical or different substituents R^(A).

In a particularly preferred embodiment of said use, in said compound offormula I, R^(A), if present, is selected from the group consisting ofhalogen, NO₂, NR^(c)R^(d), C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-haloalkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy,C₁-C₆-alkylthio, phenoxy and benzyloxy, wherein the cyclic moieties maybe unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical or different substituentsR^(a), wherein R^(a), R^(c) and R^(d) are as defined above.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to the use ofcompound as defined above as a nitrification inhibitor. In a furtheraspect, the present invention relates to the use of a compound asdefined above as for reducing nitrification.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a composition foruse in reducing nitrification, comprising at least one nitrificationinhibitor as defined above and at least one carrier.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to an agrochemicalcomposition for use in reducing nitrification, comprising at least onenitrification inhibitor as defined above and at least one carrier.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to an agrochemicalmixture comprising at least one fertilizer and at least onenitrification inhibitor as defined above; or at least one fertilizer anda composition as mentioned above for use in reducing nitrification.

In a preferred embodiment, said compound as defined above is used forreducing nitrification in combination with a fertilizer. In a furtherspecific embodiment, said compound as defined above is used for reducingnitrification in combination with a fertilizer in the form of anagrochemical mixture as mentioned above. In a further preferredembodiment, said reduction of nitrification as mentioned above occurs inor on a plant, in the root zone of a plant, in or on soil or soilsubstituents and/or at the locus where a plant is growing or is intendedto grow.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method forreducing nitrification, comprising treating a plant growing on soil orsoil substituents and/or the locus or soil or soil substituents wherethe plant is growing or is intended to grow with at least one compoundas defined above, or with a composition as defined above, or with anagrochemical composition as defined above. In a preferred embodiment ofthe method, the plant and/or the locus or soil or soil substituentswhere the plant is growing or is intended to grow is additionallyprovided with a fertilizer. In a further preferred embodiment of themethod, the application of said nitrification inhibitor and of saidfertilizer is carried out simultaneously or with a time lag, whereineither said fertilizer or said nitrification inhibitor may be applied atfirst. In a particularly preferred embodiment, said time lag is aninterval of 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 1 week, 2weeks or 3 weeks. In case of application with a time lag, anitrification inhibitor as defined above may be applied first and thenthe fertilizer. In a further preferred embodiment of the method, in afirst step a nitrification inhibitor as defined above is applied toseeds, to a plant and/or to the locus where the plant is growing or isintended to grow and in a second step the fertilizer is applied to aplant and/or to the locus where the plant is growing or is intended togrow, wherein the application of a said nitrification inhibitor in thefirst step and the fertilizer in the second step is carried out with atime lag of at least 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5, days, 6 days, 1week, 2 weeks or 3 weeks. In other embodiments of application with atime lag, a fertilizer as defined above may be applied first and then anitrification inhibitor as defined above may be applied. In a furtherpreferred embodiment of the method, in a first step a fertilizer isapplied to a plant and/or to the locus where the plant is growing or isintended to grow and in a second step a nitrification inhibitor asdefined above is applied to seeds, to a plant and/or to the locus wherethe plant is growing or is intended to grow, wherein the application ofa said fertilizer in the first step and said nitrification inhibitor inthe second step is carried out with a time lag of at least 1 day, 2days, 3 days, 4 days, 5, days, 6 days, 1 week, 2 weeks or 3 weeks.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method fortreating a fertilizer or a composition, comprising the application of anitrification inhibitor as defined herein.

In a preferred embodiment of the use, agrochemical mixture or method ofthe invention, said fertilizer is an solid or liquid ammonium-containinginorganic fertilizer such as an N PK fertilizer, ammonium nitrate,calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, ammonium sulfate orammonium phosphate; an solid or liquid organic fertilizer such as liquidmanure, semi-liquid manure, stable manure, biogas manure and strawmanure, worm castings, compost, seaweed or guano, or an urea-containingfertilizer such as urea, formaldehyde urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN)solution, urea sulphur, stabilized urea, urea based NPK-fertilizers, orurea ammonium sulfate.

In a further preferred embodiment of the use, agrochemical mixture ormethod of the invention, said plant is an agricultural plant such aswheat, barley, oat, rye, soybean, corn, potatoes, oilseed rape, canola,sunflower, cotton, sugar cane, sugar beet, rice or a vegetable such asspinach, lettuce, asparagus, or cabbages; or sorghum; a silviculturalplant; an ornamental plant; or a horticultural plant, each in itsnatural or in a genetically modified form.

Although the present invention will be described with respect toparticular embodiments, this description is not to be construed in alimiting sense.

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, definitions important for understanding the present inventionare given.

As used in this specification and in the appended claims, the singularforms of “a” and “an” also include the respective plurals unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. In the context of the presentinvention, the terms “about” and “approximately” denote an interval ofaccuracy that a person skilled in the art will understand to stillensure the technical effect of the feature in question. The termtypically indicates a deviation from the indicated numerical value of±20%, preferably ±15%, more preferably ±10%, and even more preferably±5%. It is to be understood that the term “comprising” is not limiting.For the purposes of the present invention the term “consisting of” isconsidered to be a preferred embodiment of the term “comprising of”. Ifhereinafter a group is defined to comprise at least a certain number ofembodiments, this is meant to also encompass a group which preferablyconsists of these embodiments only. Furthermore, the terms “first”,“second”, “third” or “(a)”, “(b)”, “(c)”, “(d)” etc. and the like in thedescription and in the claims, are used for distinguishing betweensimilar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential orchronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used areinterchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodimentsof the invention described herein are capable of operation in othersequences than described or illustrated herein. In case the terms“first”, “second”, “third” or “(a)”, “(b)”, “(c)”, “(d)”, “i”, “ii” etc.relate to steps of a method or use or assay there is no time or timeinterval coherence between the steps, i.e. the steps may be carried outsimultaneously or there may be time intervals of seconds, minutes,hours, days, weeks, months or even years between such steps, unlessotherwise indicated in the application as set forth herein above orbelow. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular methodology, protocols, reagents etc. described herein asthese may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology usedherein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, andis not intended to limit the scope of the present invention that will belimited only by the appended claims. Unless defined otherwise, alltechnical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings ascommonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The term “nitrification inhibitor” is to be understood in this contextas a chemical substance which slows down or stops the nitrificationprocess. Nitrification inhibitors accordingly retard the naturaltransformation of ammonium into nitrate, by inhibiting the activity ofbacteria such as Nitrosomonas spp.The term “nitrification” as usedherein is to be understood as the biological oxidation of ammonia (NH₃)or ammonium (NH₄ ₊ ) with oxygen into nitrite (NO₂ ⁻ ) followed by theoxidation of these nitrites into nitrates (NO₃ ⁻ ) by microorganisms.Besides nitrate (NO₃ ⁻ ) nitrous oxide is also produced thoughnitrification. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cyclein soil. The inhibition of nitrification may thus also reduce N₂Olosses. The term nitrification inhibitor is considered equivalent to theuse of such a compound for inhibiting nitrification.

The term “compound(s) according to the invention”, or “compounds offormula I” comprises the compound(s) as defined herein as well as astereoisomer, salt, tautomer or N-oxide thereof, preferably thecompound(s) as defined herein as well as a stereoisomer, salt, orN-oxide thereof, more preferably the compound(s) as defined herein aswell as a stereoisomer or salt thereof. The term “compound(s) of thepresent invention” is to be understood as equivalent to the term“compound(s) according to the invention”, therefore also comprising astereoisomer, salt, tautomer or N-oxide thereof. It is of course to beunderstood that tautomers can only be present, if a substituent ispresent at the compounds of formula I, which covers tautomers such asketoenol tautomers, imine-enamine tautomers, amide-imidic acid tautomersor the like. Otherwise, the term “compounds of formula I” does notencompass tautomers. Furthermore, it is to be understood thatstereoisomers are only possible, if there is at least one centre ofchirality in the molecule or if geometrical isomers (cis/trans isomers)can be formed.

The compounds of formula I may be amorphous or may exist in one or moredifferent crystalline states (polymorphs) which may have differentmacroscopic properties such as stability or show different biologicalproperties such as activities. The present invention relates toamorphous and crystalline compounds of formula I, mixtures of differentcrystalline states of the respective compound I, as well as amorphous orcrystalline salts thereof.

Salts of the compounds of the formula I are preferably agriculturallyacceptable salts. They can be formed in a customary manner, e.g. byreacting the compound with an acid of the anion in question if thecompound of formula I has a basic functionality. Agriculturally usefulsalts of the compounds of formula I encompass especially the acidaddition salts of those acids whose cations and anions, respectively,have no adverse effect on the mode of action of the compounds of formulaI. Anions of useful acid addition salts are primarily chloride, bromide,fluoride, hydrogensulfate, sulfate, dihydrogenphosphate,hydrogenphosphate, phosphate, nitrate, bicarbonate, carbonate,hexafluorosilicate, hexafluorophosphate, benzoate, and the anions ofC₁-C₄-alkanoic acids, preferably formate, acetate, propionate andbutyrate. They can be formed by reacting compounds of formula I with anacid of the corresponding anion, preferably of hydrochloric acid,hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or nitric acid.

The term “N-oxide” includes any compound of formula I which has at leastone tertiary nitrogen atom that is oxidized to an N-oxide moiety. Ofcourse, N-oxides can only be formed, if a nitrogen atom is presentwithin the compounds of formula I.

The organic moieties mentioned in the above definitions of the variablesare—like the term halogen-collective terms for individual listings ofthe individual group members. The prefix C_(n)-C_(m) indicates in eachcase the possible number of carbon atoms in the group.

The term “halogen” denotes in each case fluorine, bromine, chlorine oriodine, in particular fluorine, chlorine or bromine.

The term “alkyl” as used herein and in the alkyl moieties of alkylamino,alkylcarbonyl, alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl and alkoxyalkyldenotes in each case a straight-chain or branched alkyl group havingusually from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, frequently from 1 to 6 carbon atoms,preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably from 1 to 3 carbonatoms. Examples of an alkyl group are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl,iso-propyl, n-butyl, 2-butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl,1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl,1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1,1-di-methylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl,1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methyl-pentyl,1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl,2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethyl-butyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl,2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl,1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, and 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl.

The term “haloalkyl” as used herein and in the haloalkyl moieties ofhaloalkylcarbonyl, haloalkoxycarbonyl, haloalkylthio, haloalkylsulfonyl,haloalkylsulfinyl, haloalkoxy and haloalkoxyalkyl, denotes in each casea straight-chain or branched alkyl group having usually from 1 to 10carbon atoms, frequently from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to4 carbon atoms, wherein the hydrogen atoms of this group are partiallyor totally replaced with halogen atoms. Preferred haloalkyl moieties areselected from C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, more preferably from C₁-C₃-haloalkyl orC₁-C₂-haloalkyl, in particular from C₁-C₂-fluoroalkyl such asfluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, 1-fluoroethyl,2-fluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl,pentafluoroethyl, and the like.

The term “alkoxy” as used herein denotes in each case a straight-chainor branched alkyl group which is bonded via an oxygen atom and hasusually from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, frequently from 1 to 6 carbon atoms,preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, e.g. 1 or 2 carbon atoms. Examples of analkoxy group are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, iso-propoxy, n-butyloxy,2-butyloxy, iso-butyloxy, tert.-butyloxy, and the like.

The term “alkoxyalkyl” as used herein refers to alkyl usually comprising1 to 10, frequently 1 to 4, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, wherein 1carbon atom carries an alkoxy radical usually comprising 1 to 4,preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms as defined above. Examples are CH₂OCH₃,CH₂—OC₂H₅, 2-(methoxy)ethyl, and 2-(ethoxy)ethyl.

The term “alkylthio “(alkylsulfanyl: alkyl-S—)” as used herein refers toa straight-chain or branched saturated alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbonatoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms (═C₁-C₄-alkylthio), morepreferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, which is attached via a sulfur atom.

The term “haloalkylthio” as used herein refers to an alkylthio group asmentioned above wherein the hydrogen atoms are partially or fullysubstituted by fluorine, chlorine, bromine and/or iodine.

The term “alkenyl” as used herein denotes in each case a singlyunsaturated hydrocarbon radical having usually 2 to 10, frequently 2 to6, preferably 2 to 4 carbon atoms, e.g. vinyl, allyl (2-propen-1-yl),1-propen-1-yl, 2-propen-2-yl, methallyl (2-methylprop-2-en-1-yl),2-buten-1-yl, 3-buten-1-yl, 2-penten-1-yl, 3-penten-1-yl, 4-penten-1-yl,1-methylbut-2-en-1-yl, 2-ethylprop-2-en-1-yl and the like.

The term “alkenyloxy” as used herein denotes in each case an alkenylgroup as defined above, which is bonded via an oxygen atom and hasusually from 2 to 10, preferably from 2 to 6 or from 2 to 4 carbonatoms.

The term “alkynyl” as used herein denotes in each case a singlyunsaturated hydrocarbon radical having usually 2 to 10, frequently 2 to6, preferably 2 to 4 carbon atoms, e.g. ethynyl, propargyl(2-propyn-1-yl), 1-propyn-1-yl, 1-methylprop-2-yn-1-yl), 2-butyn-1-yl,3-butyn-1-yl, 1-pen-tyn-1-yl, 3-pentyn-1-yl, 4-pentyn-1-yl,1-methylbut-2-yn-1-yl, 1-ethylprop-2-yn-1-yl and the like.

The term “alkynyloxy” as used herein denotes in each case an alkenylgroup as defined above, which is bonded via an oxygen atom and hasusually from 2 to 10, preferably from 2 to 6 or from 2 to 4 carbonatoms.

The term “cycloalkylalkyl” refers to a cycloalkyl group as defined abovewhich is bonded via an alkyl group, such as a C₁-C₆-alkyl group or aC₁-C₄-alkyl group, in particular a methyl group (=cycloalkylmethyl), tothe remainder of the molecule.

The term “cycloalkyl” as used herein and in the cycloalkyl moieties ofcycloalkoxy and cycloalkylthio denotes in each case a monocycliccycloaliphatic radical having usually from 3 to 10 or from 3 to 6 carbonatoms, such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl,cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl and cyclodecyl or cyclopropyl,cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl.

The term “cycloalkenyl” as used herein and in the cycloalkenyl moietiesof cycloalkenyloxy and cycloalkenylthio denotes in each case amonocyclic singly unsaturated non-aromatic radical having usually from 3to 10, e.g. 3, or 4 or from 5 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 3- to8 carbon atoms. Exemplary cycloalkenyl groups include cyclopropenyl,cycloheptenyl or cyclooctenyl.

The term “cycloalkenylalkyl” refers to a cycloalkenyl group as definedabove which is bonded via an alkyl group, such as a C₁-C₆-alkyl group ora C₁-C₄-alkyl group, in particular a methyl group (=cycloalkenylmethyl),to the remainder of the molecule.

The term “carbocycle” or “carbocyclyl” includes in general a 3- to12-membered, preferably a 3- to 8-membered or a 5- to 8-membered, morepreferably a 5- or 6-membered mono-cyclic, non-aromatic ring comprising3 to 12, preferably 3 to 8 or 5 to 8, more preferably 5 or 6 carbonatoms. Preferably, the term “carbocycle” covers cycloalkyl andcycloalkenyl groups as defined above.

The term “heterocycle” or “heterocyclyl” includes in general 3- to12-membered, preferably 3- to 8-membered or 5- to 8-membered, morepreferably 5- or 6-membered, in particular 6-membered monocyclicheterocyclic non-aromatic radicals. The heterocyclic non-aromaticradicals usually comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, preferably 1, 2 or 3heteroatoms selected from N, O and S as ring members, where S-atoms asring members may be present as S, SO or SO₂. Examples of 5- or6-membered heterocyclic radicals comprise saturated or unsaturated,non-aromatic heterocyclic rings, such as oxiranyl, oxetanyl, thietanyl,thietanyl-S-oxid (S-oxothietanyl), thietanyl-S-dioxid(S-dioxothiethanyl), pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, pyrazolinyl,tetrahydrofuranyl, dihydrofuranyl, 1,3-dioxolanyl, thiolanyl,S-oxothiolanyl, S-dioxothiolanyl, dihydrothienyl, S-oxodihydrothienyl,S-dioxodihydrothienyl, oxazolidinyl, oxazolinyl, thiazolinyl,oxathiolanyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyranyl, dihydropyranyl,tetrahydropyranyl, 1,3- and 1,4-dioxanyl, thiopyranyl, Soxothiopyranyl,S-dioxothiopyranyl, dihydrothiopyranyl, S-oxodihydrothiopyranyl,S-dioxodihydrothiopyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl,S-oxotetrahydrothiopyranyl, S-dioxotetrahydrothiopyranyl, morpholinyl,thiomorpholinyl, S-oxothiomorpholinyl, S-dioxothiomorpholinyl, thiazinyland the like. Examples for heterocyclic ring also comprising 1 or 2carbonyl groups as ring members comprise pyrrolidin-2-onyl,pyrrolidin-2,5-dionyl, imidazolidin-2-onyl, oxazolidin-2-onyl,thiazolidin-2-onyl and the like.

The term “aryl” includes mono-, bi- or tricyclic aromatic radicalshaving usually from 6 to 14, preferably 6, 10, or 14 carbon atoms.Exemplary aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl and anthracenyl. Phenylis preferred as aryl group.

The term “hetaryl” includes monocyclic 5- or 6-membered heteroaromaticradicals comprising as ring members 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms selectedfrom N, O and S. Examples of 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic radicalsinclude pyridyl, i.e. 2-, 3-, or 4-pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, i.e. 2-, 4-, or5-pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, i.e. 3- or 4-pyridazinyl,thienyl, i.e. 2- or 3-thienyl, furyl, i.e. 2- or 3-furyl, pyrrolyl, i.e.2- or 3-pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, i.e. 2-, 3-, or 5-oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, i.e.3-, 4-, or 5-isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, i.e. 2-, 3- or 5-thiazolyl,isothiazolyl, i.e. 3-, 4-, or 5-isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, i.e. 1-, 3-,4-, or 5-pyrazolyl, i.e. 1-, 2-, 4-, or 5-imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, e.g.2- or 5-[1,3,4]oxadiazolyl, 4- or 5-(1,2,3-oxadiazol)yl, 3- or5-(1,2,4-oxadiazol)yl, 2- or 5-(1,3,4-thiadiazol)yl, thiadiazolyl, e.g.2- or 5-(1,3,4-thiadiazol)yl, 4- or 5-(1,2,3-thiadiazol)yl, 3- or5-(1,2,4-thiadiazol)yl, triazolyl, e.g. 1H-, 2H- or3H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl, 2H-triazol-3-yl, 1H-, 2H-, or 4H-1,2,4-triazolyland tetrazolyl, i.e. 1H- or 2H-tetrazolyl. The term “hetaryl” alsoincludes bicyclic 8 to 10-membered heteroaromatic radicals comprising asring members 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, wherein a5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring is fused to a phenyl ring or to a5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic radical. Examples of a 5- or 6-memberedheteroaromatic ring fused to a phenyl ring or to a 5- or 6-memberedheteroaromatic radical include benzofuranyl, benzo-thienyl, indolyl,indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxathiazolyl, benzoxadiazolyl,benzothiadiazolyl, benzoxazinyl, chinolinyl, isochinolinyl, purinyl,1,8-naphthyridyl, pteridyl, pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidyl or pyridoimidazolyland the like. These fused hetaryl radicals may be bonded to theremainder of the molecule via any ring atom of 5- or 6-memberedheteroaromatic ring or via a carbon atom of the fused phenyl moiety.

The terms ““benzyloxy” and “phenoxy” refer to a benzyl and a phenylgroup, respectively, which are bonded via an oxygen atom to theremainder of the molecule.

The terms “heterocyclylalkyl” and “hetarylalkyl” refer to heterocyclylor hetaryl, respectively, as defined above which are bonded via aC₁-C₆-alkyl group or a C₁-C₄-alkyl group, in particular a methyl group(=heterocyclylmethyl or hetarylmethyl, respectively), to the remainderof the molecule.

The term “arylalkyl” refers to aryl as defined above, which is bondedvia C₁-C₆-alkyl group or a C₁-C₄-alkyl group, in particular a methylgroup (=arylmethyl or phenylmethyl), to the remainder of the molecule,examples including benzyl, 1-phenylethyl, 2-phenylethyl, etc.

The term “cyclic moiety” can refer to any cyclic groups, which arepresent in the compounds of the present invention, and which are definedabove, e.g. cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, carbocycle, heterocycloalkyl,heterocycloalkenyl, heterocycle, aryl, hetaryl and the like.

As has been set out above, the present invention concerns in one aspectthe use of a a compound of formula I

as a nitrification inhibitor for reducing nitrification

-   wherein-   R¹ and R² are independently of each other selected from the group    consisting of H, C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₂-C₆-alkenyl, C₂-C₆-alkynyl,    C₁-C₆-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl C₁-C₆-alkoxy,    C₂-C₆-alkenyloxy, C₂-C₆-alkynyloxy, wherein the C-atoms may in each    case be unsubstituted or may carry 1, 2 or 3 identical or different    substituents R^(e);    -   C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl, aryl,        hetaryl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl,        C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, heterocyclyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl,        aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, and he-taryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, phenoxy and        benzyloxy, wherein the cyclic moieties may in each case be        unsubstituted or may carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 identical or        different substituents R^(a);-   A is phenyl, wherein said phenyl ring may be unsubstituted or may    carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 identical or different substituents R^(A);-   wherein-   R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of CN, halogen, NO₂,    OR^(b), NR^(c)R^(d), C(Y)R^(b), C(Y)OR^(b), C(Y)NR^(c)R^(d),    S(Y)_(m)R^(b), S(Y)_(m)OR^(b),    -   C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₂-C₆-alkenyl, C₂-C₆-alkynyl, C₁-C₆-haloalkyl,        C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, wherein the C-atoms may in each        case be unsubstituted or may carry 1, 2 or 3 identical or        different substituents R^(e);    -   C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl, aryl,        hetaryl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl,        C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, heterocyclyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl,        aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, and he-taryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, phenoxy and        benzyloxy, wherein the cyclic moieties may be unsubstituted or        may carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 identical or different substituents        R^(a);-   and wherein-   R^(a) is selected from CN, halogen, NO₂, C₁-C₄-alkyl,    C₁-C₄-haloalkyl and C₁-C₄-alkoxy;-   or two substituents R^(a) on adjacent C-atoms may be a bridge    selected from CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂, OCH₂CH₂CH₂, CH₂OCH₂CH₂, OCH₂CH₂O,    OCH₂OCH₂, CH₂CH₂CH₂, CH₂CH₂O, CH₂OCH₂, O(CH₂)O, SCH₂CH₂CH₂,    CH₂SCH₂CH₂, SCH₂CH₂S, SCH₂SCH₂, CH₂CH₂S, CH₂SCH₂, S(CH₂)S, and form    together with the C atoms, to which the two R^(a) are bonded to, a    5-membered or 6-membered saturated carbocyclic or heteocyclic ring;-   R^(b) is selected from H, C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₂-C₄-alkenyl, C₂-C₄-alkynyl,    C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, phenyl and benzyl;-   R^(c) and R^(d) are independently of each other selected from the    group consisting of H, C₁-C₄-alkyl, and C₁-C₄-haloalkyl; or-   R^(c) and R^(d) together with the N atom to which they are bonded    form a 5- or 6-membered, saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, which    may carry a further heteroatom being selected from O, S and N as a    ring member atom and wherein the heterocycle may be unsubstituted or    may carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 substituents which are independently of    each other selected from halogen;-   R^(e) is selected from CN, halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl,    C₁-C₄-alkoxy, and C₁-C₄-haloalkoxy;-   Y is O or S; and-   m is 0, 1 or 2.

In one preferred embodiment of said compound of formula I as definedabove, R¹ is H and R² is selected from the group consisting ofC₂-C₆-alkynyl, C₂-C₆-alkynyloxy, aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, andhetaryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, and is preferably selected from the groupconsisting of C₂-C₄-alkynyl, C₂-C₄-alkynyloxy, aryl-C₁-C₄-alkyl, andhetaryl-C₁-C₄-alkyl, and is most preferably hetaryl-C₁-C₄-alkyl, inparticular triazolylmethyl. These compounds correspond to compounds offormula I.a, wherein R²-a represents a substituent selected from thegroup consisting of C₂-C₆-alkynyl, C₂-C₆-alkynyloxy, aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl,and hetaryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, and is preferably selected from the groupconsisting of C₂-C₄-alkynyl, C₂-C₄-alkynyloxy, aryl-C₁-C₄-alkyl, andhetaryl-C₁-C₄-alkyl, and is more preferably selected from the groupconsisting of C₃-alkynyloxy and hetaryl-C₁-C₄-alkyl, and is mostpreferably hetaryl-C₁-C₄-alkyl, in particular triazolylmethyl. If R²-ais triazolylmethyl, it is preferred that the triazole moiety is bondedto the methyl group via one of the nitrogen atoms. Furthermore, it ispreferred that the triazole moiety is a 1,2,4-triazole moiety.

In another preferred embodiment of said compound of formula I as definedabove, both, R¹ and R² are H. These compounds correspond to compounds offormula I.b.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula I, A is phenyl, whereinsaid phenyl ring is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, or 3 identical ordifferent substituents R^(A). Such compounds correspond to compounds offormula I.1, wherein (R^(A))_(n) with n being 0, 1, 2, or 3 indicatesthe above substitution possibilities for the compound.

Particular preferred are compounds, wherein n is 1 or 2, i.e. thefollowing compounds I.1¹ and I.1²

In connection with the compounds defined above, it is to be understoodthat the substituent(s) R^(A) may be present at any carbon atom of thephenyl ring.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds offormula I, wherein R¹ is H, R² is R²-a, and A is phenyl, wherein saidphenyl ring is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, or 3 identical ordifferent substituents R^(A). Such compounds are referred to compoundsof formula I.1.a, with compounds of formula I.1¹.a and compounds offormula I.1².a being particularly preferred.

In connection with the compounds defined above, it is to be understoodthat the substituent(s) R^(A) may be present at any carbon atom of thephenyl ring.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates tocompounds of formula I, wherein R¹ is H, R² is H, A is phenyl, whereinsaid phenyl ring is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, or 3 identical ordifferent substituents R^(A). Such compounds are referred to compoundsof formula I.1.b, with compounds of formula I.1¹.b and compounds offormula I.1².b being particularly preferred. Furthermore, it can bepreferred that the phenyl ring is unsubstituted, i.e. that n in formulaI.1.b is 0.

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention therefore relates tocompounds of formula I, wherein R¹ is H, R² is H, A is phenyl, whereinsaid phenyl ring is unsubstituted or carries 1, or 2 identical ordifferent substituents R^(A).

In connection with the compounds defined above, it is to be understoodthat the substituent(s) R^(A) may be present at any carbon atom of thephenyl ring. In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it ispreferred that at least one substituent R^(A) is present in paraposition with respect to the propargylether group.

For the compounds as defined above, i.e. I.a, I.b, I.1, I.1¹, I. 1²,I.1.a, I.1¹.a, I.1².a, I.1.b, I.1¹.b, I.1².b, it is particularlypreferred that R^(A), if present, is selected from the group consistingof halogen, NO₂, NR^(c)R^(d), C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-haloalkyl,C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, phenoxy and benzyloxy, wherein the cyclicmoieties may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical or differentsubstituents R^(a), wherein R^(a), R^(c) and R^(d) are defined asfollows:

R^(a) is selected from halogen, C₁-C₂-alkyl, C₁-C₂-alkoxy, or twosubstituents R^(a) on adjacent C-atoms may be a OCH₂CH₂O bridge or aO(CH₂)O bridge; and

R^(c) and R^(d) are independently of each other selected from the groupconsisting of H, C₁-C₄-alkyl, and C₁-C₄-haloalkyl.

It is more preferred that R^(A) is selected from the group consisting ofhalogen, NO₂, C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-haloalkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, and phenoxy,wherein the phenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2identical or different substituents R^(a), wherein

R^(a) is selected from halogen.

It is more preferred that R^(A) is selected from the group consisting ofhalogen, NO₂, C₁-C₂-alkyl, C₁-C₂-haloalkyl, C₁-C₂-alkoxy, and phenoxy,wherein the phenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2identical or different substituents R^(a), wherein

R^(a) is selected from halogen.

It is most preferred that R^(A) is selected from the group consisting offluorine, chlorine, bromine, NO₂, CH₃, CF₃, methoxy, and phenoxy,wherein the phenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2identical or different substituents R^(a), wherein

R^(a) is selected from fluorine, chlorine, or bromine.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the compounds as definedabove, in particular of the compounds of formula I.1.b, I.1¹.b, I.1².bas defined above, it is preferred that R^(A), if present, is selectedfrom the group consisting of halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, and C₁-C₄-alkoxy.

In one especially preferred embodiment of the compounds as definedabove, in particular of the compounds of formula I.1.b, I.1¹.b, I.1².bas defined above, it is preferred that R^(A), if present, is selectedfrom the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, CH₃,methoxy, ethoxy, and n-propoxy, wherein preferably at least one of thesegroups is present in para position with respect to the propargylethergroup.

Thus, the present invention relates in one embodiment to compounds offormula I, wherein

R¹ and R² are independently of each other selected from the groupconsisting of H, C₂-C₆-alkynyl, C₂-C₆-alkynyloxy, aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, andhetaryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, provided at least one of R¹ and R² is H, andwherein

A is phenyl, wherein said phenyl ring is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2,or 3 identical or different substituents R^(A), wherein

R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of CN, halogen, NO₂,C(Y)OR^(b), C(Y)NR^(c)R^(d), NR^(c)R^(d), C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-haloalkyl,C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₂-C₆-alkynyloxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, phenoxy and benzyloxy,wherein the cyclic moieties may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2identical or different substituents R^(a), wherein R^(a), R^(b), R^(c)and R^(d) are defined as follows:

R^(a) is selected from halogen, C₁-C₂-alkyl, C₁-C₂-alkoxy, or twosubstituents R^(a) on adjacent C-atoms may be a OCH₂CH₂O bridge or aO(CH₂)O bridge; and

R^(b) is H or C₁-C₄-alkyl;

R^(c) and R^(d) are independently of each other selected from the groupconsisting of H, C₁-C₄-alkyl, and C₁-C₄-haloalkyl.

Thus, the present invention relates in one embodiment to compounds offormula I, wherein

R¹ and R² are independently of each other selected from the groupconsisting of H, C₂-C₆-alkynyl, C₂-C₆-alkynyloxy, aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, andhetaryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, provided at least one of R¹ and R² is H, andwherein

A is phenyl, wherein said phenyl ring is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2,or 3 identical or different substituents R^(A), wherein

R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of halogen, NO₂,NR^(c)R^(d), C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-haloalkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy,C₁-C₆-alkylthio, phenoxy and benzyloxy, wherein the cyclic moieties maybe unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical or different substituentsR^(a), wherein R^(a), R^(c) and R^(d) are defined as follows:

R^(a) is selected from halogen, C₁-C₂-alkyl, C₁-C₂-alkoxy, or twosubstituents R^(a) on adjacent C-atoms may be a OCH₂CH₂O bridge or aO(CH₂)O bridge; and

R^(c) and R^(d) are independently of each other selected from the groupconsisting of H, C₁-C₄-alkyl, and C₁-C₄-haloalkyl.

The above defined compounds of formula I are preferred in connectionwith the use as a nitrification inhibitor for reducing nitrification asdefined herein.

In particular, the present invention relates in one preferred embodimentto the use of a compound of formula I.1.a, especially a compound offormula I.1¹.a or I.1².a as defined above, as a nitrification inhibitorfor reducing nitrification,

wherein R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of halogen, NO₂,C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-haloalkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, and phenoxy, wherein thephenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical ordifferent substituents R^(a), wherein

R^(a) is selected from halogen.

In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the useof a compound of formula I.1.a, especially a compound of formula I.1¹.aor I.1².a as defined above, as a nitrification inhibitor for reducingnitrification,

wherein R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of halogen, NO₂,C₁-C₂-alkyl, C₁-C₂-haloalkyl, C₁-C₂-alkoxy, and phenoxy, wherein thephenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical ordifferent substituents R^(a), wherein

R^(a) is selected from halogen.

In an even more preferred embodiment, the present invention relates tothe use of a compound of formula I.1.a, especially a compound of formulaI.1¹.a or I.1².a as defined above, as a nitrification inhibitor forreducing nitrification,

wherein R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of fluorine,chlorine, bromine, NO₂, CH₃, CF₃, methoxy, and phenoxy, wherein thephenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical ordifferent substituents R^(a), wherein

R^(a) is selected from fluorine, chlorine, or bromine.

It is to be understood that the above defined compounds of formulaI.1.a, in particular the compounds of formula I.1¹.a or I.1².a, are notonly preferred in connection with the use according to the presentinvention, but also in connection with the composition, the agrochemicalmixture, and the methods as defined herein.

Furthermore, the present invention relates in another preferredembodiment to the use of a compound of formula I.1.b, especially acompound of formula I.1¹.b or I.1².b as defined above, as anitrification inhibitor for reducing nitrification,

wherein R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of CN, halogen, NO₂,C(Y)OR^(b), C(Y)NR^(c)R^(d), C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy,C₂-C₆-alkynyloxy, and phenoxy, wherein the cyclic moiety may beunsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical or different substituentsR^(a), wherein R^(a), R^(b), R^(c) and R^(d) are defined as follows:

R^(a) is selected from halogen, C₁-C₂-alkyl, or C₁-C₂-alkoxy; and

R^(b) is H, or C₁-C₄-alkyl;

R^(c) and R^(d) are independently of each other selected from the groupconsisting of H, or C₁-C₄-alkyl.

Furthermore, the present invention relates in another preferredembodiment to the use of a compound of formula I.1.b, especially acompound of formula I.1¹.b or I.1².b as defined above, as anitrification inhibitor for reducing nitrification,

wherein R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of halogen, NO₂,C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-haloalkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, and phenoxy, wherein thephenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical ordifferent substituents R^(a), wherein

R^(a) is selected from halogen.

In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the useof a compound of formula I.1.b, especially a compound of formula I.1¹.bor I.1².b as defined above, as a nitrification inhibitor for reducingnitrification,

wherein R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of halogen, NO₂,C₁-C₂-alkyl, C₁-C₂-haloalkyl, C₁-C₂-alkoxy, and phenoxy, wherein thephenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical ordifferent substituents R^(a), wherein

R^(a) is selected from halogen.

In an even more preferred embodiment, the present invention relates tothe use of a compound of formula I.1.b, especially a compound of formulaI.1¹.b or I.1².b as defined above, as a nitrification inhibitor forreducing nitrification,

wherein R^(A) is selected from the group consisting of fluorine,chlorine, bromine, NO₂, CH₃, CF₃, methoxy, and phenoxy, wherein thephenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1 or 2 identical ordifferent substituents R^(a), wherein

R^(a) is selected from fluorine, chlorine, or bromine.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention relatesto the use of a compound of formula I.1.b, especially a compound offormula I.1¹.b or I.1².b as defined above, as a nitrification inhibitorfor reducing nitrification,

wherein R^(A), if present, is selected from the group consisting ofhalogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, and C₁-C₄-alkoxy.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention relatesto the use of a compound of formula I.1.b, especially a compound offormula I.1¹.b or I.1².b as defined above, as a nitrification inhibitorfor reducing nitrification,

wherein R^(A), if present, is selected from the group consisting offluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, CH₃, methoxy, ethoxy, andn-propoxy, wherein preferably at least one of these groups is present inpara position with respect to the propargylether group.

It is to be understood that the above defined compounds of formulaI.1.b, in particular the compounds of formula I.1¹.b or I.1².b, are notonly preferred in connection with the use according to the presentinvention, but also in connection with the composition, the agrochemicalmixture, and the methods as defined herein.

In particular with a view to their use, preference is given to thecompounds of formula I compiled in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 No. Structure 1-1

1-2

1-3

1-4

1-5

1-6

1-7

1-8

1-9

1-10

1-11

1-12

1-13

1-14

1-15

1-16

1-17

1-18

1-19

1-20

1-21

1-22

1-23

1-24

1-25

1-26

1-27

1-28

1-29

1-30

1-31

1-32

1-33

In a central aspect the present invention thus relates to the use of acompound of formula I as defined herein as a nitrification inhibitor, orto the use of a composition comprising said compound of formula I asdefined herein for reducing nitrification. The compound of formula I orderivatives or salts thereof as defined herein, in particular thecompounds of formula I and/or salts or suitable derivatives thereof, aswell as compositions comprising said compound of formula I, oragrochemical mixtures comprising said a compound of formula I may beused for reducing nitrification.

In a central aspect the present invention thus relates to the use of acompound of formula I as defined herein, in particular any one of thecompounds listed in Table 1 above, for reducing nitrification, or to theuse of a composition comprising any one of the compounds listed in Table1 and a carrier for reducing nitrification. Furthermore, the presentinvention relates to an agricultural mixture comprising any one of thecompounds listed in Table 1 above and at least one fertilizer as definedherein. The compounds of formula I or derivatives or salts thereof asdefined herein, in particular compounds of formula I and/or saltsthereof, as well as compositions comprising said compound of formula I,or agrochemical mixtures comprising said compound of formula I may beused for reducing nitrification.

The compounds of Table 1 may be subdivided into compounds of formulaI.1.a, i.e. compounds 1-6, 1-7, 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, 1-17, 1-18, 1-20,1-21, 1-22, and compounds of formula I.1.b, i.e. compounds 1-1, 1-2,1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-14, 1-15, 1-16, 1-19, 1-23, 1-24, 1-25,1-26, 1-27, 1-28, 1-29, 1-30, 1-31, 1-32, 1-33.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of formula I arecompounds of formula I.1.a, which are selected from the group consistingof compounds 1-6, 1-7, 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, 1-17, 1-18, 1-20, 1-21, and1-22, or which are structurally different from these compounds, but arecharacterized in that R^(A), if present, is selected from the groupconsisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, NO₂, CH₃, CF₃, methoxy, andphenoxy, wherein the phenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1or 2 identical or different substituents R^(a), wherein R^(a) isselected from fluorine, chlorine, or bromine.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the compounds of formula Iare compounds of formula I.1.a, which are selected from the groupconsisting of compounds 1-6, 1-7, 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, 1-17, 1-18, 1-20,1-21, and 1-22.

In another embodiment of the invention, the compounds of formula I arecompounds of formula I.1.b, which are selected from the group consistingof compounds 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-14, 1-15 1-16,and 1-19, or which are structurally different from these compounds, butare characterized in that R^(A), if present, is selected from the groupconsisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, NO₂, CH₃, CF₃, methoxy, andphenoxy, wherein the phenoxy group may be unsubstituted or may carry 1or 2 identical or different substituents R^(a), wherein R^(a) isselected from fluorine, chlorine, or bromine.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the compounds of formula Iare compounds of formula I.1.b, which are selected from the groupconsisting of compounds 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-14,1-15 1-16, 1-19, 1-23, 1-24, 1-25, 1-26, 1-27, 1-28, 1-29, 1-30, 1-31,1-32, and 1-33, or which are structurally different from thesecompounds, but are characterized in that R^(A), if present, is selectedfrom the group consisting of halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, and C₁-C₄-alkoxy, andpreferably from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, CH₃, methoxy,ethoxy, and n-propoxy.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compounds of formula Iare compounds of formula I.1.b, which are selected from the groupconsisting of compounds 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-14,1-15, 1-16, 1-19, 1-23, 1-24, 1-25, 1-26, 1-27, 1-28, 1-29, 1-30, 1-31,1-32, and 1-33. In a particularly preferred preferred embodiment of theinvention, the compounds of formula I are compounds of formula l.1.b,which are selected from the group consisting of compounds 1-2, 1-5, 1-8,1-14, 1-15, 1-21, 1-23, 1-24, 1-25, 1-26, 1-27, 1-28, 1-29, 1-30, 1-31,1-32, and 1-33, preferably from the group consisting of compounds 1-8,1-14, 1-15, 1-25, 1-26, 1-27, 1-28, 1-29, and 1-32.

In one embodiment of the above mentioned aspects of the invention, inparticular the use according to the invention, the compound of formula Iis the compound I-1 as defined in Table 1 above.

In another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound 1-2 asdefined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound 1-3as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound 1-4as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound 1-5as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound 1-6as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound 1-7as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound 1-8as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound 1-9as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-10 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-11 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-12 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-13 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-14 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-15 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-16 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-17 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-18 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-19 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-20 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-21 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-22 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-23 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-24 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-25 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-26 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-27 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-28 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-29 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-30 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-31 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-32 as defined above.

In yet another embodiment, the compound of formula I is the compound1-33 as defined above.

It has been found that the above listed compounds of formula I haveadvantageous properties in terms of a high activity in particular at lowconcentrations. Furthermore, the compounds may exhibit a high stabilityin terms of hydrolysis and thus a reduced toxicity.

The use according to the invention may be based on the application ofthe nitrification inhibitor, the composition or the agrochemical mixtureas defined herein to a plant growing on soil and/or the locus where theplant is growing or is intended to grow, or the use may be based on theapplication of the nitrification inhibitor, the composition or theagrochemical mixture as defined herein to soil where a plant is growingor is intended to grow or to soil substituents. In specific embodiments,the nitrification inhibitor may be used for reducing nitrification inthe absence of plants, e.g. as preparatory activity for subsequentagricultural activity, or for reducing nitrification in other technicalareas, which are not related to agriculture, e.g. for environmental,water protection, energy production or similar purposes. In specificembodiments, the nitrification inhibitor, or a composition comprisingsaid nitrification inhibitor according to the present invention may beused for the reduction of nitrification in sewage, slurry, manure ordung of animals, e.g. swine or bovine feces. For example, thenitrification inhibitor, or a composition comprising said nitrificationinhibitor according to the present invention may be used for thereduction of nitrification in sewage plants, biogas plants, cowsheds,liquid manure tanks or containers etc. In further embodiments, thenitrification inhibitor, or a composition comprising said nitrificationinhibitor according to the present invention may be used for thereduction of nitrification in situ in animals, e.g. in productivelivestock. Accordingly, the nitrification inhibitor, or a compositioncomprising said nitrification inhibitor according to the presentinvention may be fed to an animal, e.g. a mammal, for instance togetherwith suitable feed and thereby lead to a reduction of nitrification inthe gastrointestinal tract of the animals, which in turn is resulting inreduction of emissions from the gastrointestinal tract. This activity,i.e. the feeding of nitrification inhibitor, or a composition comprisingsaid nitrification inhibitor according to the present invention may berepeated one to several times, e.g. each 2^(nd), 3^(rd), 4^(th), 5^(th),6^(th), 7^(th) day, or each week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or month, 2 monthsetc.

The use may further include the application of a nitrification inhibitoror derivatives or salts thereof as defined herein above, in particularcompounds of formula I and/or salts or suitable derivatives thereof, aswell as compositions comprising said nitrification inhibitor, oragrochemical mixtures comprising said nitrification inhibitor as definedherein above to environments, areas or zones, where nitrification takesplace or is assumed or expected to take place. Such environments, areasor zones may not comprise plants or soil. For example, the inhibitorsmay be used for nitrification inhibition in laboratory environments,e.g. based on enzymatic reactions or the like. Also envisaged is the usein green houses or similar indoor facilities.

The term “reducing nitrification” or “reduction of nitrification” asused herein refers to a slowing down or stopping of nitrificationprocesses, e.g. by retarding or eliminating the natural transformationof ammonium into nitrate. Such reduction may be a complete or partialelimination of nitrification at the plant or locus where the inhibitoror composition comprising said inhibitor is applied. For example, apartial elimination may result in a residual nitrification on or in theplant, or in or on the soil or soil substituents where a plant grows oris intended to grow of about 90% to 1%, e.g. 90%, 85%, 80%, 70%, 60%,50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% or less than 10%, e.g. 5% or less than 5% incomparison to a control situation where the nitrification inhibitor isnot used. In certain embodiments, a partial elimination may result in aresidual nitrification on or in the plant or in or on the soil or soilsubstituents where a plant grows or is intended to grow of below 1%,e.g. at 0.5%, 0.1% or less in comparison to a control situation wherethe nitrification inhibitor is not used.

The use of a nitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, or of acomposition as defined herein for reducing nitrification may be a singleuse, or it may be a repeated use. As single use, the nitrificationinhibitor or corresponding compositions may be provided to their targetsites, e.g. soil or loci, or objects, e.g. plants, only once in aphysiologically relevant time interval, e.g. once a year, or once every2 to 5 years, or once during the lifetime of a plant.

In other embodiments, the use may be repeated at least once per timeperiod, e.g. the nitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, or acomposition as defined herein may be used for reducing nitrification attheir target sites or objects two times within a time interval of days,weeks or months. The term “at least once” as used in the context of ause of the nitrification inhibitor means that the inhibitor may be usedtwo times, or several times, i.e. that a repetition or multiplerepetitions of an application or treatment with a nitrificationinhibitor may be envisaged. Such a repetition may be a 2 times, 3 times,4 times, 5 times, 6 times, 7 times, 8 times, 9 times, 10 times or morefrequent repetition of the use.

The nitrification inhibitor according to the present invention may beused in any suitable form. For example, it may be used as coated oruncoated granule, in liquid or semi-liquid form, as sprayable entity, orin irrigation approaches etc. In specific embodiments, the nitrificationinhibitor as defined herein may be applied or used as such, i.e. withoutformulations, fertilizer, additional water, coatings, or any furtheringredient.

The term “irrigation” as used herein refers to the watering of plants orloci or soils or soil substituents where a plant grows or is intended togrow, wherein said watering includes the provision of the nitrificationinhibitor according to the present invention together with water.

In a further aspect the invention relates to a composition for reducingnitrification comprising at least one nitrification inhibitor whereinsaid nitrification inhibitor is a compound of formula I or a derivativeas defined herein above; and at least one carrier.

The term “composition for reducing nitrification” as used herein refersto a composition which is suitable, e.g. comprises effectiveconcentrations and amounts of ingredients such as nitrificationinhibitors, in particular compounds of formula I or derivatives asdefined herein, for reducing nitrification in any context or environmentin which nitrification may occur. In one embodiment, the nitrificationmay be reduced in or on or at the locus of a plant. Typically, thenitrification may be reduced in the root zone of a plant. However, thearea in which such reduction of nitrification may occur is not limitedto the plants and their environment, but may also include any otherhabitat of nitrifying bacteria or any site at which nitrifying enzymaticactivities can be found or can function in a general manner, e.g. sewageplants, biogas plants, animal effluents from productive livestock, e.g.cows, pigs etc. “Effective amounts” or “effective concentrations” ofnitrification inhibitors as defined herein may be determined accordingto suitable in vitro and in vivo testings known to the skilled person.These amounts and concentrations may be adjusted to the locus, plant,soil, climate conditions or any other suitable parameter which may havean influence on nitrification processes.

A “carrier” as used herein is a substance or composition whichfacilitates the delivery and/or release of the ingredients to the placeor locus of destination. The term includes, for instance, agrochemicalcarriers which facilitate the delivery and/or release of agrochemicalsin their field of use, in particular on or into plants.

Examples of suitable carriers include solid carriers such as phytogels,or hydrogels, or mineral earths e.g. silicates, silica gels, talc,kaolins, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clays, dolomite,diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide,ground synthetic materials, fertilizers, such as, e.g., a solid orliquid ammonium-containing inorganic fertilizer such as an NPKfertilizer, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfatenitrate, ammonium sulfate or ammonium phosphate; an solid or liquidorganic fertilizer such as liquid manure, semi-liquid manure, stablemanure, biogas manure and straw manure, worm castings, compost, seaweedor guano, or an urea-containing fertilizer such as urea, formaldehydeurea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution, urea sulphur, stabilizedurea, urea based NPK-fertilizers, or urea ammonium sulfate, and productsof vegetable origin, such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal andnutshell meal, cellulose powders and other solid carriers. Furthersuitable examples of carriers include fumed silica or precipitatedsilica, which may, for instance, be used in solid formulations as flowaid, anti-caking aid, milling aid and as carrier for liquid activeingredients. Additional examples of suitable carriers aremicroparticles, for instance microparticles which stick to plant leavesand release their content over a certain period of time. In specificembodiments, agrochemical carriers such as composite gel microparticlesthat can be used to deliver plant-protection active principles, e.g. asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,141; or compositions comprising atleast one phytoactive compound and an encapsulating adjuvant, whereinthe adjuvant comprises a fungal cell or a fragment thereof, e.g. asdescribed in WO 2005/102045; or carrier granules, coated with alipophilic tackifier on the surface, wherein the carrier granule adheresto the surface of plants, grasses and weeds, e.g. as disclosed in US2007/0280981 may be used. In further specific embodiments, such carriersmay include specific, strongly binding molecule which assure that thecarrier sticks to the plant, the soil, or the locus where the plant isgrowing till its content is completely delivered. For instance, thecarrier may be or comprise cellulose binding domains (CBDs) have beendescribed as useful agents for attachment of molecular species tocellulose (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,117); or direct fusions between a CBDand an enzyme; or a multifunctional fusion protein which may be used fordelivery of encapsulated agents, wherein the multifunctional fusionproteins may consist of a first binding domain which is a carbohydratebinding domain and a second binding domain, wherein either the firstbinding domain or the second binding domain can bind to a microparticle(see also WO 03/031477). Further suitable examples of carriers includebifunctional fusion proteins consisting of a CBD and an anti-RR6antibody fragment binding to a microparticle, which complex may bedeposited onto treads or cut grass (see also WO 03/031477). In anotherspecific embodiment the carrier may be active ingredient carriergranules that adhere to the surface of plants, grasses and weeds or thesoil, or the locus where the plant is growing etc. using amoisture-active coating, for instance including gum arabic, guar gum,gum karaya, gum tragacanth and locust bean gum. Upon application of theinventive granule onto a plant surface, water from precipitation,irrigation, dew, co-application with the granules from specialapplication equipment, or guttation water from the plant itself mayprovide sufficient moisture for adherence of the granule to the plantsurface (see also US 2007/0280981).

In another specific embodiment the carrier, e.g. an agrochemicalcarrier, may be or comprise polyaminoacids. Polyaminoacids may beobtained according to any suitable process, e.g. by polymerization ofsingle or multiple amino acids such as glycine, alanine, valine,leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, proline, tryptophan, serine,tyrosine, cysteine, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, threonine,aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine, histidine and/orornithine. Polyaminoacids may be combined with a nitrification inhibitoraccording to the present invention and, in certain embodiments, alsowith further carriers as mentioned herein above, or other nitrificationinhibitors as mentioned herein in any suitable ratio. For example,Polyaminoacids may be combined with a nitrification inhibitor accordingto the present invention in a ratio of 1 to 10 (polyaminoacids) vs. 0.5to 2 (nitrification inhibitor according to the present invention).

The composition for reducing nitrification comprising at least onenitrification inhibitor as defined herein may further compriseadditional ingredients, for example at least one pesticidal compound.For example, the composition may additionally comprise at least oneherbicidal compound and/or at least one fungicidal compound and/or atleast one insecticidal compound and/or at least one nematicide.

In further embodiments, the composition may, in addition to the aboveindicated ingredients, in particular in addition to the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I, further comprise one or morealternative or additional nitrification inhibitors. Examples ofenvisaged alternative or additional nitrification inhibitors arelinoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, methyl p-coumarate, methylferulate, methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (MHPP), Karanjin,brachialacton, p-benzoquinone sorgoleone,2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine (nitrapyrin or N-serve),dicyan-diamide (DCD, DIDIN), 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP,ENTEC), 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC), 1-amido-2-thiourea(ASU), 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM),2-mercapto-benzothiazole (MBT),5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,4-thiodiazole (terrazole, etridiazole),2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST), ammoniumthiosulfate (ATU), 3-methylpyrazol(3-MP), 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DM P), 1,2,4-triazol thiourea (TU),N-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)acetamides such asN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)acetamide, andN-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)formamides such asN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl formamide,N-(4-chloro-3(5)-methyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide,N-(3(5),4-dimethyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, neem, products basedon ingredients of neem, cyan amide, melamine, zeolite powder, catechol,benzoquinone, sodium terta board, zinc sulfate.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the presentinvention may comprise a combination of the nitrification inhibitor ofthe compound of formula I and 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine(nitrapyrin or N-serve).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,4-thiodiazole (terrazole, etridiazole).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and dicyandiamide (DCD, DIDIN).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 3,4-dimethyl pyrazolephosphate (DMPP, ENTEC).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2-mercapto-benzothiazole(MBT).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and ammoni-umthiosulfate (ATU).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 3-methylpyrazol (3-MP).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 1,2,4-triazol.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and thiourea (TU).

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and linoleic acid.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and alpha-linolenic acid.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and methyl p-coumarate.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (MHPP).

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and methyl ferulate.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and Karanjin.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and brachialacton.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and p-benzoquinone sorgoleone.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 4-amino-1,2,4-triazolehydrochloride (ATC).

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 1-amido-2-thiourea (ASU).

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I andN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)acetamide.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I andN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl formamide.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I andN-(4-chloro-3(5)-methyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I andN-(3(5),4-dimethyl-pyrazole-1-yl methyl)-formamide.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and neem or products based oningredients of neem.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and cyanamide.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and melamine.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and zeolite powder.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and batechol.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and benzoquinone.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and sodium terat borate.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and zinc sulfate.

In further embodiments, the composition according to the presentinvention may comprise a combination of the nitrification inhibitor ofthe compound of formula I and two entities selected from the groupcomprising: linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, methyl p-coumarate,methyl ferulate, methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (MHPP), Karanjin,brachialacton, p-benzoquinone sorgoleone,2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine (nitrapyrin or N-serve),dicyandiamide (DCD, DIDIN), 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP,ENTEC), 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC), 1-amido-2-thiourea(ASU), 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM),2-mercapto-benzothiazole (MBT),5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,4-thiodiazole (terrazole, etridiazole),2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST), ammoniumthiosulfate (ATU), 3-methylpyrazol(3-MP), 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP), 1,2,4-triazol and thiourea (TU),N-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)acetamides such asN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)acetamide, andN-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)formamides such asN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl formamide,N-(4-chloro-3(5)-methyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, orN-(3(5),4-dimethyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide neem, products basedon ingredients of neem, cyan amide, melamine, zeolite powder, catechol,benzoquinone, sodium terta board, zinc sulfate.

In yet another group of embodiments, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and three, four or more entitiesselected from the group comprising: linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid,methyl p-coumarate, methyl ferulate, methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (MHPP), Karanjin, brachialacton, p-benzoquinone sorgoleone,2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine (nitrapyrin or N-serve),dicyandiamide (DCD, DIDIN), 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP,ENTEC), 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC), 1-amido-2-thiourea(ASU), 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM),2-mercapto-benzothiazole (MBT),5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,4-thiodiazole (terrazole, etridiazole),2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST) ammoniumthiosulfate (ATU), 3-methylpyrazol(3-MP), 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP), 1,2,4-triazol and thiourea (TU),N-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)acetamides such asN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)acetamide, andN-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)formamides such asN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl formamide,N-(4-chloro-3(5)-methyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, orN-(3(5),4-dimethyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide neem, products basedon ingredients of neem, cyan amide, melamine, zeolite powder, catechol,benzoquinone, sodium terta board, zinc sulfate.

In further embodiments, the composition may, in addition to the aboveindicated ingredients, in particular in addition to the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I, further comprise one or moreurease inhibitors. Examples of envisaged urease inhibitors includeN-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT, Agrotain), N-(n-propyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT), 2-nitrophenyl phosphoric triamide(2-NPT), further NXPTs known to the skilled person,phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD/PPDA), hydroquinone, ammonium thiosulfate,and mixtures of NBPT and NPPT (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 8,075,659). Suchmixtures of NBPT and NPPT may comprise NBPT in amounts of from 40 to 95%wt.-% and preferably of 60 to 80% wt.-% based on the total amount ofactive substances. Such mixtures are marketed as LIMUS, which is acomposition comprising about 16.9 wt.-% NBPT and about 5.6 wt.-% NPPTand about 77.5 wt.-% of other ingredients including solvents andadjuvants.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the presentinvention may comprise a combination of the nitrification inhibitor ofthe compound of formula I and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide(NBPT, Agrotain).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and phenylphosphorodiamidate(PPD/PPDA).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and N-(n-propyl) thiophosphoricacid triamide (NPPT).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2-nitrophenyl phosphorictriamide (2-NPT).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and hydroquinone.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and ammonium thiosulfate.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and neem.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and cyanamide.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and melamine.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and a mixture of NBPT and NPPTsuch as LIMUS.

In further embodiments, the composition according to the presentinvention may comprise a combination of the nitrification inhibitor ofthe compound of formula I and two or more entities selected from thegroup comprising: N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT,Agrotain), N-(n-propyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT),2-nitrophenyl phosphoric triamide (2-N PT), further NXPTs known to theskilled person, phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD/PPDA), hydroquinone,ammonium thiosulfate, and LIMUS.

In further embodiments, the composition may, in addition to one, more orall of the above indicated ingredients, in particular in addition to thenitrification inhibitor of the compound of formula I, further compriseone or more plant growth regulators. Examples of envisaged plant growthregulators are antiauxins, auxins, cytokinins, defoliants, ethylenemodulators, ethylene releasers, gibberellins, growth inhibitors,morphactins, growth retardants, growth stimulators, and furtherunclassified plant growth regulators.

Suitable examples of antiauxins to be used in a composition according tothe present invention are clofibric acid or 2,3,5-tri-iodobenzoic acid.

Suitable examples of auxins to be used in a composition according to thepresent invention are 4-CPA, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, 2,4-DEP, dichlorprop,fenoprop, IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), IBA, naphthaleneacetamide,alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid, 1-naphthol, naphthoxyacetic acid,potassium naphthenate, sodium naphthenate or 2,4,5-T.

Suitable examples of cytokinins to be used in a composition according tothe present invention are 2iP, 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BA) (=N-6Benzyladenine), 2,6-Dimethylpuridine (N-Oxide-2,6-Lultidine),2,6-Dimethylpyridine, kinetin, or zeatin.

Suitable examples of defoliants to be used in a composition according tothe present invention are calcium cyanamide, dimethipin, endothal,merphos, metoxuron, pentachlorophenol, thidiazuron, tribufos, ortributyl phosphorotrithioate.

Suitable examples of ethylene modulators to be used in a compositionaccording to the present invention are aviglycine, 1-methylcyclopropene(1-MCP)

Prohexadione (prohexadione calcium), or trinexapac (Trinexapac-ethyl).

Suitable examples of ethylene releasers to be used in a compositionaccording to the present invention are ACC, etacelasil, ethephon, orglyoxime.

Suitable examples of gibberellins to be used in a composition accordingto the present invention are gibberelline or gibberellic acid.

Suitable examples of growth inhibitors to be used in a compositionaccording to the present invention are abscisic acid, S-abscisic acid,ancymidol, butralin, carbaryl, chlorphonium, chlorpropham, dikegulac,flumetralin, fluoridamid, fosamine, glyphosine, isopyrimol, jasmonicacid, maleic hydrazide, mepiquat (mepiquat chloride, mepiquatpentaborate), piproctanyl, prohydrojasmon, propham, or2,3,5-tri-iodobenzoic acid.

Suitable examples of morphactins to be used in a composition accordingto the present invention are chlorfluren, chlorflurenol,dichlorflurenol, or flurenol.

Suitable examples of growth retardants to be used in a compositionaccording to the present invention are chlormequat (chlormequatchloride), daminozide, flurprimidol, mefluidide, paclobutrazol,tetcyclacis, uniconazole, metconazol.

Suitable examples of growth stimulators to be used in a compositionaccording to the present invention are brassinolide, forchlorfenuron, orhymexazol.

Suitable examples of further unclassified plant growth regulators to beused in a composition according to the present invention are amidochlor,benzofluor, buminafos, carvone, choline chloride, ciobutide, clofencet,cloxyfonac, cyanamide, cyclanilide, cycloheximide, cyprosulfamide,epocholeone, ethychlozate, ethylene, fenridazon, fluprimidol,fluthiacet, heptopargil, holosulf, inabenfide, karetazan, lead arsenate,methasulfocarb, pydanon, sintofen, diflufenzopyr or triapenthenol.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the presentinvention may comprise a combination of the nitrification inhibitor ofthe compound of formula I and at least one compound selected from thegroup comprising: abscisic acid, amidochlor, ancymidol,6-benzylaminopurine (=N-6 benzyladenine), brassinolide, butralin,chlormequat (chlormequat chloride), choline chloride, cyclanilide,daminozide, diflufenzopyr, dikegulac, dimethipin, 2,6-dimethylpyridine,ethephon, flumetralin, flurprimidol, fluthiacet, forchlorfenuron,gibberellic acid, inabenfide, indole-3-acetic acid, maleic hydrazide,mefluidide, mepiquat (mepiquat chloride), 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP),naphthaleneacetic acid, N-6 benzyladenine, paclobutrazol, prohexadione(prohexadione calcium), prohydrojasmon, thidiazuron, triapenthenol,tributyl phosphorotrithioate, 2,3,5-tri-iodobenzoic acid,trinexapac-ethyl, and uniconazole.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the presentinvention may comprise a combination of the nitrification inhibitor ofthe compound of formula I and clofibric acid.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 4-CPA.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2,4-D.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2,4-DB.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2,4-DEP.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and dichlorprop.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and fenoprop.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and IAA (indole-3-acetic acid).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and IBA.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and naphthaleneacetamide.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and alphanaphthaleneacetic acid.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 1-naphthol.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and naphthoxyacetic acid.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and potassium naphthenate.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and sodium naphthenate.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2,4,5-T.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2iP.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BA)(=N-6 Benzyladenine).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 2,6-Dimethylpuridine(N-Oxide-2,6-Lultidine).

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and zeatin.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and kinetin.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and calcium cyanamide.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and dimethipin.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and endothal.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and merphos.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and metoxuron.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and pentachlorophenol.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and thidiazuron.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and tribufos.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and tributyl phosphorotrithioate.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and aviglycine.

In a further preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention may comprise a combination of the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I and 1-methylcyclopropene.(

A composition as defined herein, in particular a composition comprisinga nitrification inhibitor as defined herein and a plant growth regulatoras defined herein, may be used for the increase of plant health.

The term “plant health” as used herein is intended to mean a conditionof the plant which is determined by several aspects alone or incombination with each other. One indicator (indicator 1) for thecondition of the plant is the crop yield. “Crop” and “fruit” are to beunderstood as any plant product which is further utilized afterharvesting, e.g. fruits in the proper sense, vegetables, nuts, grains,seeds, wood (e.g. in the case of silviculture plants), flowers (e.g. inthe case of gardening plants, ornamentals) etc., that is anything ofeconomic value that is produced by the plant. Another indicator(indicator 2) for the condition of the plant is the plant vigor. Theplant vigor becomes manifest in several aspects, too, some of which arevisual appearance, e.g. leaf color, fruit color and aspect, amount ofdead basal leaves and/or extent of leaf blades, plant weight, plantheight, extent of plant verse (lodging), number, strong ness andproductivity of tillers, panicles' length, extent of root system,strongness of roots, extent of nodulation, in particular of rhizobialnodulation, point of time of germination, emergence, flowering, grainmaturity and/or senescence, protein content, sugar content and the like.Another indicator (indicator 3) for an increase of a plant's health isthe reduction of biotic or abiotic stress factors. The three abovementioned indicators for the health condition of a plant may beinterdependent and may result from each other. For example, a reductionof biotic or abiotic stress may lead to a better plant vigor, e.g. tobetter and bigger crops, and thus to an increased yield. Biotic stress,especially over longer terms, can have harmful effects on plants. Theterm “biotic stress” as used in the context of the present inventionrefers in particular to stress caused by living organisms. As a result,the quantity and the quality of the stressed plants, their crops andfruits decrease. As far as quality is concerned, reproductivedevelopment is usually severely affected with consequences on the cropswhich are important for fruits or seeds. Growth may be slowed by thestresses; polysaccharide synthesis, both structural and storage, may bereduced or modified: these effects may lead to a decrease in biomass andto changes in the nutritional value of the product. Abiotic stressincludes drought, cold, increased UV, increased heat, or other changesin the environment of the plant, that leads to sub-optimal growthconditions. The term “increased yield” of a plant as used herein meansthat the yield of a product of the respective plant is increased by ameasurable amount over the yield of the same product of the plantproduced under the same conditions, but without the application of thecomposition of the invention. According to the present invention, it ispreferred that the yield be increased by at least 0.5%, more preferredat least 1%, even more preferred at least 2%, still more preferred atleast 4%. An increased yield may, for example, be due to a reduction ofnitrification and a corresponding improvement of uptake of nitrogennutrients. The term “improved plant vigor” as used herein means thatcertain crop characteristics are increased or improved by a measurableor noticeable amount over the same factor of the plant produced underthe same conditions, but without the application of the composition ofthe present invention. Improved plant vigor can be characterized, amongothers, by following improved properties of a plant:

(a) improved vitality of the plant,

(b) improved quality of the plant and/or of the plant products, e.g.

(b) enhanced protein content,

(c) improved visual appearance,

(d) delay of senescence,

(e) enhanced root growth and/or more developed root system (e.g.determined by the dry mass of the root),

(f) enhanced nodulation, in particular rhizobial nodulation,

(g) longer panicles,

(h) bigger leaf blade,

(i) less dead basal leaves,

(j) increased chlorophyll content

(k) prolonged photosynthetically active period

(l) improved nitrogen-supply within the plant

The improvement of the plant vigor according to the present inventionparticularly means that the improvement of anyone or several or all ofthe above mentioned plant characteristics are improved. It further meansthat if not all of the above characteristics are improved, those whichare not improved are not worsened as compared to plants which were nottreated according to the invention or are at least not worsened to suchan extent that the negative effect exceeds the positive effect of theimproved characteristic (i.e. there is always an overall positive effectwhich preferably results in an improved crop yield). An improved plantvigor may, for example, be due to a reduction of nitrification and, e.g.a regulation of plant growth.

In further embodiments, the composition may, in addition to the aboveindicated ingredients, in particular in addition to the nitrificationinhibitor of the compound of formula I, further comprise one or morepesticides.

A pesticide is an agent that through its effect deters, incapacitates,kills or otherwise discourages pests. Target pests can include insects,plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes(roundworms), and microbes that destroy property, cause nuisance, spreaddisease or are vectors for disease. The term “pesticide” includes alsoplant growth regulators that alter the expected growth, flowering, orreproduction rate of plants; defoliants that cause leaves or otherfoliage to drop from a plant, usually to facilitate harvest; desiccantsthat promote drying of living tissues, such as unwanted plant tops;plant activators that activate plant physiology for defense of againstcertain pests; safeners that reduce unwanted herbicidal action ofpesticides on crop plants; and plant growth promoters that affect plantphysiology e.g. to increase plant growth, biomass, yield or any otherquality parameter of the harvestable goods of a crop plant.

According to one embodiment, individual components of the compositionaccording to the invention such as parts of a kit or parts of a binaryor ternary mixture may be mixed by the user himself in a spray tank orany other kind of vessel used for applications (e.g. seed treater drums,seed pelleting machinery, knapsack sprayer) and further auxiliaries maybe added, if appropriate.

Consequently, one embodiment of the invention is a kit for preparing ausable pesticidal composition, the kit comprising a) a compositioncomprising component 1) as defined herein and at least one auxiliary;and b) a composition comprising component 2) as defined herein and atleast one auxiliary; and optionally c) a composition comprising at leastone auxiliary and optionally a further active component 3) as definedherein.

The following list of pesticides I (e.g. pesticidally-activesubstances), in conjunction with which the compounds I can be used, isintended to illustrate the possible combinations but does not limitthem:

-   A) Respiration inhibitors    -   Inhibitors of complex III at Q_(o) site (e.g. strobilurins):        azoxystrobin (A.1.1), coumethoxy-strobin (A.1.2), coumoxystrobin        (A.1.3), dimoxystrobin (A.1.4), enestroburin (A.1.5),        fenaminstrobin (A.1.6), fenoxystrobin/flufenoxystrobin (A.1.7),        fluoxastrobin (A.1.8), kresoxim-methyl (A.1.9), mandestrobin        (A.1.10), metominostrobin (A.1.11), orysastrobin (A.1.12),        picoxystrobin (A.1.13), pyraclostrobin (A.1.14), pyrametostrobin        (A.1.15), pyraoxystrobin (A.1.16), trifloxystrobin (A.1.17),        2-(2-(3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1-methyl-allylideneaminooxy-methyl)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-acetamide        (A.1.18), pyribencarb (A.1.19), triclopyricarb/chlorodincarb        (A.1.20), famoxadone (A.1.21), fenamidone (A.1.21),        methyl-N-[2-[(1,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-pyrazol-3-yl)oxylmethyl]phenyl]-N-methoxy-carbamate        (A.1.22),        1-[3-chloro-2-[[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]phenyl]-4-methyl-tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.23),        1-[3-bromo-2-[[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]phenyl]-4-methyl-tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.24),        1-[2-[[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]-3-methyl-phenyl]-4-methyl-tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.25),        1-[2-[[1-(4-chloroplenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]-3-fluoro-phenyl]-4-methyl-tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.26),        1-[2-[[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]-3-fluoro-phenyl]-4-methyl-tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.27),    -   1-[2-[[4-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazol-2-yl]oxymethyl]-3-methyl-phenyl]-4-mehnyl-tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.28),        1-[3-chloro-2-[[4-(p-toly)thiazol-2-yl]oxymethyl]phenyl]-4-methyl-tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.29),        1-[3-cyclopropyl-2-[[2-methyl-4-(1-methylpyrazol-3-yl)phenoxy]methyl]phenyl]-4-methyl-tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.30),        1-[3-(difluoromethoxy)-2-[[2-methyl-4-(1-methylpyrazol-3-yl)phenoxy]methyl]phenyl]-4-methyl-tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.31),        1-methyl-4-[3-methyl-2-[[2-methyl-4-(1-methylpyrazol-3-yl)phenoxymethyl]phenyl]tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.32),        1-me-thyl-4-[3-methyl-2-[[1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-ethylideneamino]oxymethyl]phenyl]tetrazol-5-one        (A.1.33),        (Z2E)-5-[1-[2,4-dichlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-oxy-2-methoxylmino-N,3-dimethyl-pent-3-enamide        (A.1.34),        (Z2E)-5-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxy-2-methoxylmino-N,3-dimethyl-pent-3-enamide        (A.1.35),        (Z,2E)-5-[1-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxy-2-methoxyimino-N,3-dimethyl-pent-3-enamide        (A.1.36), inhibitors of complex III at Q_(i) site: cyazofamid        (A.2.1), amisulbrom (A.2.2),        [(3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-di-oxonan-7-yl]2-methylpropanoate        (A.2.3),        [(3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-[[3-(acetoxymethoxy)-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl]amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl]2-methylpropanoate        (A.2.4),        [(3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-[(3-isobutoxycarbonyloxy-4-meth-oxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl]2-methylpropanoate        (A.2.5),        [(3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-34[3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethoxy)-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl]amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl]2-methylpropanoate        (A.2.6);        (3S,6S,7R,8R)-3-[[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-pyridinyl)carbonyl]amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-8-(phenylmethyl)-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl2-methylpropanoate        (A.2.7),        (3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-[3-[(isobutyryloxy)methoxy]-4-methoxypicolinamido]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl        isobutyrate (A.2.8);    -   inhibitors of complex II (e.g. carboxamides): benodanil (A.3.1),        benzovindiflupyr (A.3.2), bixafen (A.3.3), boscalid (A.3.4),        carboxin (A.3.5), fenfuram (A.3.6), fluopyram (A.3.7),        flutolanil (A.3.8), fluxapyroxad (A.3.9), furametpyr (A.3.10),        isofetamid (A.3.11), isopyrazam (A.3.12), mepronil (A.3.13),        oxycarboxin (A.3.14), penflufen (A.3.14), penthiopyrad (A.3.15),        sedaxane (A.3.16), tecloftalam (A.3.17), thifluzamide (A.3.18),        N-(4′-trifluoromethylthiobiphenyl-2-yl)-3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide        (A.3.19),        N-(2-(1,3,3-trimethyl-butyl)-phenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-5-fluoro-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide        (A.3.20),        3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide        (A.3.21),        3-(trifluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide        (A.3.22),        1,3-dimethyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide        (A.3.23),        3-(trifluoromethyl)-1,5-dimethyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide        (A.3.24),        1,3,5-trimethyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide        (A.3.25),        N-(7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-indan-4-yl)-1,3-dimethyl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide        (A.3.26),        N-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl]-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide        (A.3.27);    -   other respiration inhibitors (e.g. complex I, uncouplers):        diflumetorim (A.4.1),        (5,8-difluoro-quinazolin-4-yl)-{2-[2-fluoro-4-(4-trifluoromethylpyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]ethyl}-amine        (A.4.2); nitrophenyl derivates: binapacryl (A.4.3), dinobuton        (A.4.4), dinocap (A.4.5), fluazinam (A.4.6); ferimzone (A.4.7);        organometal compounds: fentin salts, such as fentin-acetate        (A.4.8), fentin chloride (A.4.9) or fentin hydroxide (A.4.10);        ametoctradin (A.4.11); and silthiofam (A.4.12);-   B) Sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SBI fungicides)    -   C14 demethylase inhibitors (DMI fungicides): triazoles:        azaconazole (B.1.1), bitertanol (B.1.2), bromuconazole (B.1.3),        cyproconazole (B.1.4), difenoconazole (B.1.5), diniconazole        (B.1.6), diniconazole-M (B.1.7), epoxiconazole (B.1.8),        fenbuconazole (B.1.9), fluquinconazole (B.1.10), flusilazole        (B.1.11), flutriafol (B.1.12), hexaconazole (B.1.13),        imibenconazole (B.1.14), ipconazole (B.1.15), metconazole        (B.1.17), myclobutanil (B.1.18), oxpoconazole (B.1.19),        paclobutrazole (B.1.20), penconazole (B.1.21), propiconazole        (B.1.22), prothioconazole (B.1.23), simeconazole (B.1.24),        tebuconazole (B.1.25), tetraconazole (B.1.26), triadimefon        (B.1.27), triadimenol (B.1.28), triticonazole (B.1.29),        uniconazole (B.1.30),        1-[rel-(2S;3R)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-oxiranylmethyl]-5-thiocyanato-1H-[1,2,4]triazolo        (B.1.31),        2-[rel-(2S;3R)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-oxiranylmethyl]-2H-[1,2,4]triazole-3-thiol        (B.1.32),        2-[2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenyl]-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan-2-ol        (B.1.33),        1-[4-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-cyclopropyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethanol        (B.1.34),        2-[4-(4-chloro-phenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol        (B.1.35),        2-[2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenyl]-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol        (B.1.36),        2-[4-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-methyl-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol        (B.1.37),        2-[4-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol        (B.1.38),        2-[2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenyI]-3-methyl-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol        (B.1.39),        2-[4-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan-2-ol        (B.1.40),        2-[4-(4-fluorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol        (B.1.41),        2-[2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenyl]-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pent-3-yn-2-ol        (B.1.51); imidazoles: imazalil (B.1.42), pefurazoate (B.1.43),        prochloraz (B.1.44), triflumizol (B.1.45); pyrimidines,        pyridines and piperazines: fenarimol (B.1.46), nuarimol        (B.1.47), pyrifenox (B.1.48), triforine (B.1.49),        [3-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl)-5-(2,4-difluorophenyl)isoxazol-4-yl]-(3-pyridyl)methanol        (B.1.50);    -   Delta14-reductase inhibitors: aldimorph (B.2.1), dodemorph        (B.2.2), dodemorph-acetate (B.2.3), fenpropimorph (B.2.4),        tridemorph (B.2.5), fenpropidin (B.2.6), piperalin (B.2.7),        spiroxamine (B.2.8);    -   Inhibitors of 3-keto reductase: fenhexamid (B.3.1);-   C) Nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors    -   phenylamides or acyl amino acid fungicides: benalaxyl (C.1.1),        benalaxyl-M (C.1.2), kiralaxyl (C.1.3), metalaxyl (C.1.4),        metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam, C.1.5), ofurace (C.1.6), oxadixyl        (C.1.7);    -   others: hymexazole (C.2.1), octhilinone (C.2.2), oxolinic acid        (C.2.3), bupirimate (C.2.4), 5-fluorocytosine (C.2.5),        5-fluoro-2-(p-tolylmethoxy)pyrimidin-4-amine (C.2.6),        5-fluoro-2-(4-fluorophenylmethoxy)pyrimidin-4-amine (C.2.7);-   D) Inhibitors of cell division and cytoskeleton    -   tubulin inhibitors, such as benzimidazoles, thiophanates:        benomyl (D1.1), carbendazim (D1.2), fuberidazole (D1.3),        thiabendazole (D1.4), thiophanate-methyl (D1.5);        triazolopyrimidines:        5-chloro-7-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine        (D1.6);    -   other cell division inhibitors: diethofencarb (D2.1), ethaboxam        (D2.2), pencycuron (D2.3), fluopicolide (D2.4), zoxamide (D2.5),        metrafenone (D2.6), pyriofenone (D2.7);-   E) Inhibitors of amino acid and protein synthesis    -   methionine synthesis inhibitors (anilino-pyrimidines):        cyprodinil (E.1.1), mepanipyrim (E.1.2), pyrimethanil (E.1.3);    -   protein synthesis inhibitors: blasticidin-S (E.2.1), kasugamycin        (E.2.2), kasugamycin hydrochloride-hydrate (E.2.3), mildiomycin        (E.2.4), streptomycin (E.2.5), oxytetracyclin (E.2.6), polyoxine        (E.2.7), validamycin A (E.2.8);-   F) Signal transduction inhibitors    -   MAP/histidine kinase inhibitors: fluoroimid (F.1.1), iprodione        (F.1.2), procymidone (F.1.3), vinclozolin (F.1.4), fenpiclonil        (F.1.5), fludioxonil (F.1.6);    -   G protein inhibitors: quinoxyfen (F.2.1);-   G) Lipid and membrane synthesis inhibitors    -   Phospholipid biosynthesis inhibitors: edifenphos (G.1.1),        iprobenfos (G.1.2), pyrazophos (G.1.3), isoprothiolane (G.1.4);    -   lipid peroxidation: dicloran (G.2.1), quintozene (G.2.2),        tecnazene (G.2.3), tolclofos-methyl (G.2.4), biphenyl (G.2.5),        chloroneb (G.2.6), etridiazole (G.2.7);    -   phospholipid biosynthesis and cell wall deposition: dimethomorph        (G.3.1), flumorph (G.3.2), mandipropamid (G.3.3), pyrimorph        (G.3.4), benthiavalicarb (G.3.5), iprovalicarb (G.3.6),        valifenalate (G.3.7) and        N-(1-(1-(4-cyano-phenyl)ethanesulfonyl)-but-2-yl) carbamic        acid-(4-fluorophenyl) ester (G.3.8);    -   compounds affecting cell membrane permeability and fatty acides:        propamocarb (G.4.1);    -   fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors: oxathiapiprolin (G.5.1),        2-{3-[2-(1-{[3,5-bis(di-fluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl}piperidin-4-yl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-5-yl}phenyl        methanesulfonate (G.5.2),        2-{3-[2-(1-{[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl}piperidin-4-yl)        1,3-thiazol-4-yl]-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-5-yl}-3-chlorophenyl        methanesulfonate (G.5.3);-   H) Inhibitors with Multi Site Action    -   inorganic active substances: Bordeaux mixture (H.1.1), copper        acetate (H.1.2), copper hydroxide (H.1.3), copper oxychloride        (H.1.4), basic copper sulfate (H.1.5), sulfur (H.1.6);    -   thio- and dithiocarbamates: ferbam (H.2.1), mancozeb (H.2.2),        maneb (H.2.3), metam (H.2.4), metiram (H.2.5), propineb (H.2.6),        thiram (H.2.7), zineb (H.2.8), ziram (H.2.9);    -   organochlorine compounds (e.g. phthalimides, sulfamides,        chloronitriles): anilazine (H.3.1), chlorothalonil (H.3.2),        captafol (H.3.3), captan (H.3.4), folpet (H.3.5), dichlofluanid        (H.3.6), dichlorophen (H.3.7), hexachlorobenzene (H.3.8),        pentachlorphenole (H.3.9) and its salts, phthalide (H.3.10),        tolylfluanid (H.3.11),        N-(4-chloro-2-nitro-phenyl)-N-ethyl-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide        (H.3.12);    -   guanidines and others: guanidine (H.4.1), dodine (H.4.2), dodine        free base (H.4.3), guazatine (H.4.4), guazatine-acetate (H.4.5),        iminoctadine (H.4.6), iminoctadine-triacetate (H.4.7),        iminoctadine-tris(albesilate) (H.4.8), dithianon (H.4.9),        2,6-dimethyl-1H,5H-[1,4]dithiino[2,3-c:5,6-c′]dipyrrole-1,3,5,7(2H,6H)-tetraone        (H.4.10);-   I) Cell wall synthesis inhibitors    -   inhibitors of glucan synthesis: validamycin (1.1.1), polyoxin B        (1.1.2);    -   melanin synthesis inhibitors: pyroquilon (1.2.1), tricyclazole        (1.2.2), carpropamid (1.2.3), dicyclomet (1.2.4), fenoxanil        (1.2.5);-   J) Plant defence inducers    -   acibenzolar-S-methyl (J.1.1), probenazole (J.1.2), isotianil        (J.1.3), tiadinil (J.1.4), prohexadione-calcium (J.1.5);        phosphonates: fosetyl (J.1.6), fosetyl-aluminum (J.1.7),        phosphorous acid and its salts (J.1.8), potassium or sodium        bicarbonate (J.1.9);-   K) Unknown mode of action    -   bronopol (K.1.1), chinomethionat (K.1.2), cyflufenamid (K.1.3),        cymoxanil (K.1.4), dazomet (K.1.5), debacarb (K.1.6),        diclomezine (K.1.7), difenzoquat (K.1.8),        difenzoquatmethylsulfate (K.1.9), diphenylamin (K.1.10),        fenpyrazamine (K.1.11), flumetover (K.1.12), flusulfamide        (K.1.13), flutianil (K.1.14), methasulfocarb (K.1.15),        nitrapyrin (K.1.16), nitrothal-isopropyl (K.1.18),        oxathiapiprolin (K.1.19), tolprocarb (K.1.20), oxin-copper        (K.1.21), proquinazid (K.1.22), tebufloquin (K.1.23),        tecloftalam (K.1.24), triazoxide (K.1.25),        2-butoxy-6-iodo-3-propylchromen-4-one (K.1.26),        2-[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-1-[4-(4-{5-[2-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl}-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]ethanone        (K.1.27),        2-[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-1-[4-(4-{5-[2-fluoro-6-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl}-1,3-thiazol-2-piperidin-1-yl]ethanone        (K.1.28),        2-[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-1-[4-(4-{5-[2-chloro-6-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl}-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]ethanone        (K.1.29),        N-(cyclopropylmethoxyimino-(6-difluoro-methoxy-2,3-difluoro-phenyl)-methyl)-2-phenyl        acetamide (K.1.30),        N′-(4-(4-chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-2,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methyl        formamidine (K.1.31),        N′-(4-(4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-2,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methyl        formamidine (K.1.32),        N′-(2-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-4-(3-trimethylsilanyl-propoxy)-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methyl        formamidine (K.1.33),        N′-(5-difluoromethyl-2-methyl-4-(3-trimethylsilanyl-propoxy)-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methyl        formamidine (K.1.34), methoxy-acetic acid        6-tert-butyl-8-fluoro-2,3-dimethyl-quinolin-4-ylester (K.1.35),        3-[5-(4-methylphenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-isoxazolidin-3-yl]-pyridine        (K.1.36),        3-[5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-isoxazolidin-3-yl]-pyridine        (pyrisoxazole) (K.1.37), N-(6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)        cyclopropanecarboxylic acid amide (K.1.38),        5-chloro-1-(4,6-dimethoxy-pyrimidin-2-yl)-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazole        (K.1.39),        2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-N-[4-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-isoxazol-5-yl]-2-prop-2-ynyloxy-acetamide,        ethyl (Z)-3-amino-2-cyano-3-phenyl-prop-2-enoate (K.1.40),        picarbutrazox (K.1.41), pentyl        N-[6-[[(Z)-[(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)-phenyl-methylene]amino]oxymethyl]-2-pyridyl]carbamate        (K.1.42),        2-[2-[(7,8-difluoro-2-methyl-3-quinolyl)oxy]-6-fluoro-phenyl]propan-2-ol        (K.1.43),        2-[2-fluoro-6-[(8-fluoro-2-methyl-3-quinolyl)oxy]phen-yl]propan-2-ol        (K.1.44),        3-(5-fluoro-3,3,4,4-tetramethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-yl)quinoline        (K.1.45),        3-(4,4-difluoro-3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-yl)quinoline        (K.1.46),        3-(4,4,5-trifluoro-3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-yl)quinoline        (K.1.47),        9-fluoro-2,2-dimethyl-5-(3-quinolyl)-3H-1,4-benzoxazepine        (K.1.48);-   M) Insecticides    -   M.1) Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitors from the class of:        M.1A carbamates, for example aldicarb, alanycarb, bendiocarb,        benfuracarb, butocarboxim, butoxycarboxim, carbaryl, carbofuran,        carbosulfan, ethiofencarb, fenobucarb, formetanate,        furathiocarb, isoprocarb, methiocarb, methomyl, metolcarb,        oxamyl, pirimicarb, propoxur, thiodicarb, thiofanox,        trimethacarb, XMC, xylylcarb and triazamate; or from the class        of M.1B organophosphates, for example acephate, azamethiphos,        azinphos-ethyl, azinphosmethyl, cadusafos, chlorethoxyfos,        chlorfenvinphos, chlormephos, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl,        coumaphos, cyanophos, demeton-S-methyl, diazinon,        dichlorvos/DDVP, dicrotophos, dimethoate, dimethylvinphos,        disulfoton, EPN, ethion, ethoprophos, famphur, fenamiphos,        fenitrothion, fenthion, fosthiazate, heptenophos, imicyafos,        isofenphos, isopropyl O-(methoxyaminothio-phosphoryl)        salicylate, isoxathion, malathion, mecarbam, methamidophos,        methidathion, mevinphos, monocrotophos, naled, omethoate,        oxydemeton-methyl, parathion, parathion-methyl, phenthoate,        phorate, phosalone, phosmet, phosphamidon, phoxim,        pirimiphos-methyl, profenofos, propetamphos, prothiofos,        pyraclofos, pyridaphenthion, quinalphos, sulfotep, tebupirimfos,        temephos, terbufos, tetrachlorvinphos, thiometon, triazophos,        trichlorfon and vamidothion;    -   M.2) GABA-gated chloride channel antagonists such as: M.2A        cyclodiene organochlorine compounds, as for example endosulfan        or chlordane; or M.2B fiproles (phenylpyrazoles), as for example        ethiprole, fipronil, flufiprole, pyrafluprole and pyriprole;    -   M.3) Sodium channel modulators from the class of M.3A        pyrethroids, for example acrinathrin, allethrin, d-cis-trans        allethrin, d-trans allethrin, bifenthrin, bioallethrin,        bioallethrin S-cylclopentenyl, bioresmethrin, cycloprothrin,        cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin,        gamma-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, alphacypermethrin,        beta-cypermethrin, theta-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin,        cyphenothrin, deltamethrin, empenthrin, esfenvalerate,        etofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, flucythrinate,        flumethrin, tau-fluvalinate, halfenprox, heptafluthrin,        imiprothrin, meperfluthrin, metofluthrin, momfluorothrin,        permethrin, phenothrin, prallethrin, profluthrin, pyrethrin        (pyrethrum), resmethrin, silafluofen, tefluthrin,        tetramethylfluthrin, tetramethrin, tralomethrin and        transfluthrin; or M.3B sodium channel modulators such as DDT or        methoxychlor;    -   M.4) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists (nAChR) from the        class of M.4A neonicotinoids, for example acetamiprid,        clothianidin, cycloxaprid, dinotefuran, imidacloprid,        nitenpyram, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam; or the compounds        M.4A.2:        (2E-)-1-[(6-Chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-N′-nitro-2-pentylidenehydrazinecarboximidamide;        or M4.A.3:        1-[(6-Chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-7-methyl-8-nitro-5-propoxy-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;        or from the class M.4B nicotine;    -   M.5) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric activators from        the class of spinosyns, for example spinosad or spinetoram;    -   M.6) Chloride channel activators from the class of avermectins        and milbemycins, for example abamectin, emamectin benzoate,        ivermectin, lepimectin or milbemectin;    -   M.7) Juvenile hormone mimics, such as M.7A juvenile hormone        analogues as hydroprene, kinoprene and methoprene; or others as        M.7B fenoxycarb or M.7C pyriproxyfen;    -   M.8) miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors, for        example M.8A alkyl halides as methyl bromide and other alkyl        halides, or M.8B chloropicrin, or M.8C sulfuryl fluoride, or        M.8D borax, or M.8E tartar emetic;    -   M.9) Selective homopteran feeding blockers, for example M.9B        pymetrozine, or M.9C flonicamid;    -   M.10) Mite growth inhibitors, for example M.10A clofentezine,        hexythiazox and diflovidazin, or M.10B etoxazole;    -   M.11) Microbial disruptors of insect midgut membranes, for        example Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus sphaericus and the        insecticdal proteins they produce such as Bacillus thuringiensis        subsp. israelensis, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus thuringiensis        subsp. aizawai, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and        Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrio-nis, or the Bt crop        proteins: Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Fa, Cry2Ab, mCry3A, Cry3Ab, Cry3Bb        and Cry34/35Ab1;    -   M.12) Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase, for example        M.12A diafenthiuron, or M.12B organotin miticides such as        azocyclotin, cyhexatin or fenbutatin oxide, or M.12C propargite,        or M.12D tetradifon;    -   M.13) Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation via disruption of        the proton gradient, for example chlorfenapyr, DNOC or        sulfluramid;    -   M.14) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel blockers,        for example nereistoxin analogues as bensultap, cartap        hydrochloride, thiocyclam or thiosultap sodium;    -   M.15) Inhibitors of the chitin biosynthesis type 0, such as        benzoylureas as for example bistrifluron, chlorfluazuron,        diflubenzuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron,        lufenuron, novaluron, noviflumuron, teflubenzuron or        triflumuron;    -   M.16) Inhibitors of the chitin biosynthesis type 1, as for        example buprofezin;    -   M.17) Moulting disruptors, Dipteran, as for example cyromazine;    -   M.18) Ecdyson receptor agonists such as diacylhydrazines, for        example methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide, halofenozide, fufenozide        or chromafenozide;    -   M.19) Octopamin receptor agonists, as for example amitraz;    -   M.20) Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors,        for example M.20A hydramethylnon, or M.20B acequinocyl, or M.20C        fluacrypyrim;    -   M.21) Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors, for        example M.21A METI acaricides and insecticides such as        fenazaquin, fenpyroximate, pyrimidifen, pyridaben, tebufenpyrad        or tolfenpyrad, or M.21B rotenone;    -   M.22) Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers, for example        M.22A indoxacarb, or    -   M.22B metaflumizone, or M.22B.1:        2-[2-(4-Cyanophenyl)-1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene]-N-[4-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-hydrazinecarboxamide        or M.226.2:        N-(3-Chloro-2-methylphenyl)-2-[(4-chlorophenyl)[4-[methyl(methylsulfonyl)amino]phenyl]methylene]-hydrazinecarboxamide;    -   M.23) Inhibitors of the of acetyl CoA carboxylase, such as        Tetronic and Tetramic acid derivatives, for example        spirodiclofen, spiromesifen or spirotetramat;    -   M.24) Mitochondrial complex IV electron transport inhibitors,        for example M.24A phosphine such as aluminium phosphide, calcium        phosphide, phosphine or zinc phosphide, or M.24B cyanide;    -   M.25) Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors,        such as beta-ketonitrile derivatives, for example cyenopyrafen        or cyflumetofen;    -   M.28) Ryanodine receptor-modulators from the class of diamides,        as for example flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole (rynaxypyr®),        cyantraniliprole (cyazypyr®), tetraniliprole, or the phthalamide        compounds M.28.1:        (R)-3-Chlor-N1-{2-methyl-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluor-1-(trifluormethyl)ethyl]phenyl}-N2-(1-methyl-2-methylsulfonylethyl)phthalamid        and M.28.2:        (S)-3-Chlor-N1-{2-methyl-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluor-1-(trifluormethyl)ethyl]phenyl}-N2-(1-methyl-2-methylsulfonylethyl)phthalamid,        or the compound M.28.3:        3-bromo-N-{2-bromo-4-chloro-6-[(1-cyclopropylethyl)carbamoyl]phenyl}-1-(3-chlorpyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (proposed ISO name: cyclaniliprole), or the compound M.28.4:        methyl-2-[3,5-dibromo-2-({[3-bromo-1-(3-chlorpyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]carbonyl}amino)benzoyl]-1,2-dimethylhydrazinecarboxylate;        or a compound selected from M.28.5a) to M.28.5d) and M.28.5h) to        M.28.51): M.28.5a)        N-[4,6-dichloro-2-[(diethyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-phenyl]-2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;        M.28.5b)        N-[4-chloro-2-[(diethyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-6-methyl-phenyl]-2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;        M.28.5c)        N-[4-chloro-2-[(di-2-propyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-6-methyl-phenyl]-2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;        M.28.5d)        N-[4,6-dichloro-2-[(di-2-propyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-phenyl]-2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoro-methyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;        M.28.5h)        N-[4,6-dibromo-2-[(diethyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-phenyl]-2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;        M.28.5i)        N-[2-(5-Amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-4-chloro-6-methylphenyl]-3-bromo-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide;        M.28.5j)        3-Chloro-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-N-[2,4-dichloro-6-[[(1-cyano-1-methylethyl)amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-1        H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide; M.28.5k)        3-Bromo-N-[2,4-dichloro-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-1-(3,5-dichloro-2-pyridyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide;        M.28.51)        N-[4-Chloro-2-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]carbonyl]-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-3-(fluoromethoxy)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide;        or a compound selected from M.28.6:        N-(2-cyanopropan-2-yl)-N-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-3-iodobenzene-1,2-dicarboxamide;        or M.28.7:        3-Chloro-N-(2-cyanopropan-2-yl)-N-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-benzene-1,2-dicarboxamide;    -   M.29) insecticidal active compounds of unknown or uncertain mode        of action, as for example afidopyropen, afoxolaner,        azadirachtin, amidoflumet, benzoximate, bifenazate,        broflanilide, bromopropylate, chinomethionat, cryolite,        dicloromezotiaz, dicofol, flufenerim, flometoquin, fluensulfone,        fluhexafon, fluopyram, flupyradifurone, fluralaner,        metoxadiazone, piperonyl butoxide, pyflubumide, pyridalyl,        pyrifluquinazon, sulfoxaflor, tioxazafen, triflumezopyrim, or        the compounds;        -   M.29.3:            11-(4-chloro-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-12-hydroxy-1,4-dioxa-9-azadispiro[4.2.4.2]-tetradec-11-en-10-one,            or the compound M.29.4:            3-(4′-fluoro-2,4-dimethylbiphenyl-3-yl)-4-hydroxy-8-oxa-1-azaspiro[4.5]dec-3-en-2-one,            or the compound M.29.5:            1-[2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl]-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-amine,            or actives on basis of bacillus firmus (Votivo, 1-1582);        -   or a compound selected from the group of M.29.6, wherein the            compound is selected from M.29.6a) to M.29.6k): M.29.6a)            (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-acetamide;            M.29.6b)            (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-chloro-5-fluoro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-acetamide;            M.29.6c)            (E/Z)-2,2,2-trifluoro-N-[1-[(6-fluoro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]acetamide;            M.29.6d)            (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-bromo-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-acetamide;            M.29.6e)            (E/Z)-N-[1-[1-(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)ethyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-acetamide;            M.29.6f)            (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2-difluoro-acetamide;            M.29.6g)            (E/Z)-2-chloro-N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2-difluoro-acetamide;            M.29.6h)            (E/Z)-N-[1-[(2-chloropyrimidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-acetamide;            M.29.6i)            (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoro-propanamide.);            M.29.6j)            N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-thioacetamide;            or M.29.6k)            N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-N′-isopropyl-acetamidine;            or the compounds M.29.8:            8-chloro-N-[2-chloro-5-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-6-trifluoromethyl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxamide;        -   or the compounds M.29.9.a):            4-[5-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4H-isoxazol-3-yl]-2-methyl-N-(1-oxothietan-3-yl)benzamide;            or M.29.9.b):            4-[5-(3,5-Dichlorophenyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-3-yl]-N-[(methoxyimino)methyl]-2-methylbenzamide;        -   or M.29.10:            5-[3-[2,6-dichloro-4-(3,3-dichloroallyloxy)phenoxy]propoxy]-1H-pyrazole;        -   or a compound selected from the group of M.29.11, wherein            the compound is selected from M.29.11b) to M.29.11p):            M.29.11.b)            3-(benzoylmethylamino)-N-[2-bromo-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-fluoro-benzamide;            M.29.11.c)            3-(benzoylmethylamino)-2-fluoro-N-[2-iodo-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethypethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl[-benzamide;            M.29.11.d)            N-[3-[[[2-iodo-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-N-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.e)            N-[3-[[[2-bromo-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]-2-fluorophenyl]-4-fluoro-N-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.f)            4-fluoro-N-[2-fluoro-3-[[[2-iodo-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)-ethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-N-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.g)            3-fluoro-N-[2-fluoro-3-[[[2-iodo-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)-ethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-N-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.h)            2-chloro-N-[3-[[[2-iodo-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-3-pyridinecarboxamide;            M.29.11.i)            4-cyano-N-[2-cyano-54[2,6-dibromo-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)-propyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]phenyl]-2-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.j)            4-cyano-3-[(4-cyano-2-methyl-benzoyl)amino]-N-[2,6-dichloro-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]phenyl]-2-fluoro-benzamide;            M.29.11.k)            N-[5-[2-chloro-6-cyano-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cyano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.l)            N-[5-[[2-bromo-6-chloro-4-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxy-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cyano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.m)            N-[5-[[2-bromo-6-chloro-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cyano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.n)            4-cyano-N-[2-cyano-5-[[2,6-dichloro-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]phenyl]-2-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.0)            4-cyano-N-[2-cyano-5-[[2,6-dichloro-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethypethyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]phenyl]-2-methyl-benzamide;            M.29.11.p)            N-[5-[[2-bromo-6-chloro-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cyano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide;        -   or a compound selected from the group of M.29.12, wherein            the compound is selected from M.29.12a) to M.29.12m):            M.29.12.a)            2-(1,3-Dioxan-2-yl)-6-[2-(3-pyridinyl)-5-thiazolyl]-pyridine;            M.29.12.b)            2-[6-[2-(5-Fluoro-3-pyridinyl)-5-thiazolyl]-2-pyridinyl]-pyrimidine;            M.29.12.c)            2-[6-[2-(3-Pyridinyl)-5-thiazolyl]-2-pyridinyl]-pyrimidine;            M.29.12.d)            N-Methylsulfonyl-6-[2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]pyridine-2-carboxamide;            M.29.12.e)            N-Methylsulfonyl-6-[2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]pyridine-2-carboxamide;            M.29.12.f)            N-Ethyl-N-[4-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-3-methylthio-propanamide;            M.29.12.g)            N-Methyl-N-[4-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-3-methylthio-propanamide;            M.29.12.h)            N,2-Dimethyl-N-[4-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-3-methylthio-propanamide;            M.29.12.i)            N-Ethyl-2-methyl-N-[4-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-3-methylthio-propanamide;            M.29.12.j)            N-[4-Chloro-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-N-ethyl-2-methyl-3-methylthio-propanamide;            M.29.12.k)            N-[4-Chloro-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-N,2-dimethyl-3-methylthio-propanamide;            M.29.12.1)            N-[4-Chloro-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-N-methyl-3-methylthio-propanamide;            M.29.12.m)            N-[4-Chloro-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-N-ethyl-3-methylthio-propanamide;        -   or the compounds M.29.14a)            1-[(6-Chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-5-methoxy-7-methyl-8-nitro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine;            or M.29.14b)            1-[(6-Chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-7-methyl-8-nitro-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-5-ol;            or the compounds M.29.16a)            1-isopropyl-N,5-dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;            or M.29.16b)            1-(1,2-dimethylpropyl)-N-ethyl-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;            M.29.16c)            N,5-dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-methyl-ethyl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide;            M.29.16d)1-[1-(1-cyanocyclopropyl)ethyl]-N-ethyl-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;            M.29.16e)            N-ethyl-1-(2-fluoro-1-methyl-propyl)-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;            M.29.16f)            1-(1,2-dimethylpropyI)-N,5-dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;            M.29.16g)            1-[1-(1-cyanocyclopropyl)ethyl]-N,5-dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;            M.29.16h)            N-methyl-1-(2-fluoro-1-methyl-propyl]-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;            M.29.16i)            1-(4,4-difluorocyclohexyl)-N-ethyl-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;            or M.29.16j)            1-(4,4-difluorocyclohexyl)-N,5-dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;-   N) Herbicides    -   herbicides from the classes of the acetamides, amides,        aryloxyphenoxypropionates, benzamides, benzofuran, benzoic        acids, benzothiadiazinones, bipyridylium, carbamates,        chloroacetamides, chlorocarboxylic acids, cyclohexanediones,        dinitroanilines, dinitrophenol, diphenyl ether, glycines,        imidazolinones, isoxazoles, isoxazolidinones, nitriles,        N-phenylphthalimides, oxadiazoles, oxazolidinediones,        oxyacetamides, phenoxycarboxylic acids, phenylcarbamates,        phenylpyrazoles, phenylpyrazolines, phenylpyridazines,        phosphinic acids, phosphoroamidates, phosphorodithioates,        phthalamates, pyrazoles, pyridazinones, pyridines,        pyridinecarboxylic acids, pyridinecarboxamides,        pyrimidinediones, pyrimidinyl(thio)benzoates,        quinolinecarboxylic acids, semicarbazones,        sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinones, sulfonylureas,        tetrazolinones, thiadiazoles, thiocarbamates, triazines,        triazinones, triazoles, triazolinones, triazolocarboxamides,        triazolopyrimidines, triketones, uracils, or ureas.

The present invention furthermore relates to agrochemical compositionscomprising a mixture of at least one compound of formula I, i.e. anitrification inhibitor of the present invention (compound I orcomponent I) and at least one further active substance useful for plantprotection, e.g. selected from the groups A) to N) (component 2), inparticular one further fungicide, e.g. one or more fungicide from thegroups A) to K), as described above, and if desired one suitable solventor solid carrier. Those mixtures are of particular interest, since manyof them at the same application rate show higher efficiencies againstharmful fungi. Furthermore, combating harmful fungi with a mixture ofcompounds I and at least one fungicide from groups A) to K), asdescribed above, is more efficient than combating those fungi withindividual compounds I or individual fungicides from groups A) to K).

By applying compounds I together with at least one active substance fromgroups A) to N) a synergistic plant health effect can be obtained, i.e.more than simple addition of the individual effects is obtained(synergistic mixtures).

This can be obtained by applying the compounds I and at least onefurther active substance simultaneously, either jointly (e.g. astank-mix) or separately, or in succession, wherein the time intervalbetween the individual applications is selected to ensure that theactive substance applied first still occurs at the site of action in asufficient amount at the time of application of the further activesubstance(s). The order of application is not essential for working ofthe present invention.

When applying compound I and a pesticide I sequentially the time betweenboth applications may vary e.g. between 2 hours to 7 days. Also abroader range is possible ranging from 0.25 hour to 30 days, preferablyfrom 0.5 hour to 14 days, particularly from 1 hour to 7 days or from 1.5hours to 5 days, even more preferred from 2 hours to 1 day. In case of amixture comprising a pesticide II selected from group L), it ispreferred that the pesticide I is applied as last treatment.

In the binary mixtures and compositions according to the invention theweight ratio of the component 1) and the component 2) generally dependsfrom the properties of the active components used, usually it is in therange of from 1:100 to 100:1, regularly in the range of from 1:50 to50:1, preferably in the range of from 1:20 to 20:1, more preferably inthe range of from 1:10 to 10:1, even more preferably in the range offrom 1:4 to 4:1 and in particular in the range of from 1:2 to 2:1.

According to further embodiments of the binary mixtures andcompositions, the weight ratio of the component 1) and the component 2)usually is in the range of from 1000:1 to 1:1, often in the range offrom 100: 1 to 1:1, regularly in the range of from 50:1 to 1:1,preferably in the range of from 20:1 to 1:1, more preferably in therange of from 10:1 to 1:1, even more preferably in the range of from 4:1to 1:1 and in particular in the range of from 2:1 to 1:1.

According to a further embodiments of the binary mixtures andcompositions, the weight ratio of the component 1) and the component 2)usually is in the range of from 1:1 to 1:1000, often in the range offrom 1:1 to 1:100, regularly in the range of from 1:1 to 1:50,preferably in the range of from 1:1 to 1:20, more preferably in therange of from 1:1 to 1:10, even more preferably in the range of from 1:1to 1:4 and in particular in the range of from 1:1 to 1:2.

According to further embodiments of the mixtures and compositions, theweight ratio of the component 1) and the component 2) generally dependsfrom the properties of the active components used, usually it is in therange of from 1:10,000 to 10,000:1, regularly in the range of from 1:100to 10,000:1, preferably in the range of from 1:100 to 5,000:1, morepreferably in the range of from 1:1 to 1,000:1, even more preferably inthe range of from 1:1 to 500:1 and in particular in the range of from10:1 to 300:1.

According to further embodiments of the mixtures and compositions, theweight ratio of the component 1) and the component 2) usually is in therange of from 20,000:1 to 1:10, often in the range of from 10,000:1 to1:1, regularly in the range of from 5,000:1 to 5:1, preferably in therange of from 5,000:1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from2,000:1 to 30:1, even more preferably in the range of from 2,000:1 to100:1 and in particular in the range of from 1,000:1 to 100:1.

According to further embodiments of the mixtures and compositions, theweight ratio of the component 1) and the component 2) usually is in therange of from 1:20,000 to 10:1, often in the range of from 1:10,000 to1:1, regularly in the range of from 1:5,000 to 1:5, preferably in therange of from 1:5,000 to 1:10, more preferably in the range of from1:2,000 to 1:30, even more preferably in the range of from 1:2,000 to1:100 and in particular in the range of from 1:1,000 to 1:100.

In the ternary mixtures, i.e. compositions according to the inventioncomprising the component 1) and component 2) and a compound III(component 3), the weight ratio of component 1) and component 2) dependsfrom the properties of the active substances used, usually it is in therange of from 1:100 to 100:1, regularly in the range of from 1:50 to50:1, preferably in the range of from 1:20 to 20:1, more preferably inthe range of from 1:10 to 10:1 and in particular in the range of from1:4 to 4:1, and the weight ratio of component 1) and component 3)usually it is in the range of from 1:100 to 100:1, regularly in therange of from 1:50 to 50:1, preferably in the range of from 1:20 to20:1, more preferably in the range of from 1:10 to 10:1 and inparticular in the range of from 1:4 to 4:1.

Any further active components are, if desired, added in a ratio of from20:1 to 1:20 to the component 1).

These ratios are also suitable for inventive mixtures applied by seedtreatment.

The active substances referred to as component 2, their preparation andtheir activity e.g. against harmful fungi is known (cf.:http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/); these substances are commerciallyavailable. The compounds described by IUPAC nomenclature, theirpreparation and their pesticidal activity are also known (cf. Can. J.Plant Sci. 48(6), 587-94, 1968; EP-A 141 317; EP-A 152 031; EP-A 226917; EP-A 243 970; EP-A 256 503; EP-A 428 941; EP-A 532 022; EP-A 1 028125; EP-A 1 035 122; EP-A 1 201 648; EP-A 1 122 244, JP 2002316902; DE19650197; DE 10021412; DE 102005009458; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,296,272;3,325,503; WO 98/46608; WO 99/14187; WO 99/24413; WO 99/27783; WO00/29404; WO 00/46148; WO 00/65913; WO 01/54501; WO 01/56358; WO02/22583; WO 02/40431; WO 03/10149; WO 03/11853; WO 03/14103; WO03/16286; WO 03/53145; WO 03/61388; WO 03/66609; WO 03/74491; WO04/49804; WO 04/83193; WO 05/120234; WO 05/123689; WO 05/123690; WO05/63721; WO 05/87772; WO 05/87773; WO 06/15866; WO 06/87325; WO06/87343; WO 07/82098; WO 07/90624, WO 11/028657, WO2012/168188, WO2007/006670, WO 2011/77514; WO13/047749, WO 10/069882, WO 13/047441, WO03/16303, WO 09/90181, WO 13/007767, WO 13/010862, WO 13/127704, WO13/024009, WO 13/024010 and WO 13/047441, WO 13/162072, WO 13/092224, WO11/135833).

The commercially available compounds of the group M listed above may befound in The Pesticide Manual, 16th Edition, C. MacBean, British CropProtection Council (2013) among other publications. The online PesticideManual is updated regularly and is accessible throughhttp://bcpcdatacom/pesticide-manual.html. Another online data base forpesticides providing the ISO common names ishttp://www.alanwood.net/pesticides. The M.4 neonicotinoid cycloxaprid isknown from WO2010/069266 and WO2011/069456, the neonicotinoid M.4A.2,sometimes also to be named as guadipyr, is known from WO2013/003977, andthe neonicotinoid M.4A.3 (approved as paichongding in China) is knownfrom WO2007/101369. The metaflumizone analogue M.22B.1 is described inCN10171577 and the analogue M.22B.2 in CN102126994. The phthalamidesM.28.1 and M.28.2 are both known from WO2007/101540. The anthranilamideM.28.3 is described in WO2005/077934. The hydrazide compound M.28.4 isdescribed in WO2007/043677. The anthranilamides M.28.5a) to M.28.5d) andM.28.5h) are described in WO 2007/006670, WO2013/024009 andWO2013/024010, the anthranilamide M.28.5i) is described inWO2011/085575, M.28.5j) in WO2008/134969, M.28.5k) in US2011/046186 andM.28.51) in WO2012/034403. The diamide compounds M.28.6 and M.28.7 canbe found in CN102613183. The spiroketal-substituted cyclic ketoenolderivative M.29.3 is known from WO2006/089633 and thebiphenyl-substituted spirocyclic ketoenol derivative M.29.4 fromWO2008/067911. The triazoylphenylsulfide M.29.5 is described inWO2006/043635, and biological control agents on the basis of bacillusfirmus are described in WO2009/124707. The compounds M.29.6a) toM.29.6i) listed under M.29.6 are described in WO2012/029672, andM.29.6j) and M.29.6k) in WO2013/129688. The nematicide M.29.8 is knownfrom WO2013/055584. The isoxazoline M.29.9.a) is described inWO2013/050317. The isoxazoline M.29.9.b) is described in WO2014/126208.The pyridalyl-type analogue M.29.10 is known from WO2010/060379. Thecarboxamides broflanilide and M.29.11.b) to M.29.11.h) are described inWO2010/018714, and the carboxamides M.29.11i) to M.29.11.p) inWO2010/127926. The pyridylthiazoles M.29.12.a) to M.29.12.c) are knownfrom WO2010/006713, M.29.12.d) and M.29.12.e) are known fromWO2012/000896, and M.29.12.f) to M.29.12.m) from WO2010/129497. Thecompounds M.29.14a) and M.29.14b) are known from WO2007/101369. Thepyrazoles M.29.16.a) to M.29.16h) are described in WO2010/034737,WO2012/084670, and WO2012/143317, respectively, and the pyrazolesM.29.16i) and M.29.16j) are described in U.S. 61/891,437.

In a further aspect the present invention relates to an agrochemicalmixture comprising at least one fertilizer; and at least onenitrification inhibitor as defined as defined herein above; or at leastone fertilizer and a composition as mentioned above.

In the terms of the present invention “agrochemical mixture” means acombination of at least two compounds. The term is, however, notrestricted to a physical mixture comprising at least two compounds, butrefers to any preparation form of at least one compound and at least onefurther compound, the use of which many be time- and/or locus-related.

The agrochemical mixtures may, for example, be formulated separately butapplied in a temporal relationship, i.e. simultaneously or subsequently,the subsequent application having a time interval which allows acombined action of the compounds.

Furthermore, the individual compounds of the agrochemical mixturesaccording to the invention such as parts of a kit or parts of the binarymixture may be mixed by the user himself in a suitable mixing device. Inspecific embodiments further auxiliaries may be added, if appropriate.

The term “fertilizers” is to be understood as chemical compounds appliedto promote plant and fruit growth. Fertilizers are typically appliedeither through the soil (for uptake by plant roots), through soilsubstituents (also for uptake by plant roots), or by foliar feeding (foruptake through leaves). The term also includes mixtures of one or moredifferent types of fertilizers as mentioned below.

The term “fertilizers” can be subdivided into several categoriesincluding: a) organic fertilizers (composed of decayed plant/animalmatter), b) inorganic fertilizers (composed of chemicals and minerals)and c) urea-containing fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers include manure, e.g. liquid manure, semi-liquidmanure, biogas manure, stable manure or straw manure, slurry, wormcastings, peat, seaweed, compost, sewage, and guano. Green manure cropsare also regularly grown to add nutrients (especially nitrogen) to thesoil. Manufactured organic fertilizers include compost, blood meal, bonemeal and seaweed extracts. Further examples are enzyme digestedproteins, fish meal, and feather meal. The decomposing crop residue fromprior years is another source of fertility. In addition, naturallyoccurring minerals such as mine rock phosphate, sulfate of potash andlimestone are also considered inorganic fertilizers.

Inorganic fertilizers are usually manufactured through chemicalprocesses (such as the Haber process), also using naturally occurringdeposits, while chemically altering them (e.g. concentrated triplesuperphosphate). Naturally occurring inorganic fertilizers includeChilean sodium nitrate, mine rock phosphate, limestone, and raw potashfertilizers.

The inorganic fertilizer may, in a specific embodiment, be a NPKfertilizer. “NPK fertilizers” are inorganic fertilizers formulated inappropriate concentrations and combinations comprising the three mainnutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) as well astypically S, Mg, Ca, and trace elements.

Urea-containing fertilizer may, in specific embodiments, be urea,formaldehyde urea, anhydrous ammonium, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN)solution, urea sulfur, urea based NPK-fertilizers, or urea ammoniumsulfate. Also envisaged is the use of urea as fertilizer. In caseurea-containing fertilizers or urea are used or provided, it isparticularly preferred that urease inhibitors as defined herein abovemay be added or additionally be present, or be used at the same time orin connection with the urea-containing fertilizers.

Fertilizers may be provided in any suitable form, e.g. as solid coatedor uncoated granules, in liquid or semi-liquid form, as sprayablefertilizer, or via fertigation etc.

Coated fertilizers may be provided with a wide range of materials.Coatings may, for example, be applied to granular or prilled nitrogen(N) fertilizer or to multi-nutrient fertilizers. Typically, urea is usedas base material for most coated fertilizers. Alternatively, ammonium orNPK fertilizers are used as base material for coated fertilizers. Thepresent invention, however, also envisages the use of other basematerials for coated fertilizers, any one of the fertilizer materialsdefined herein. In certain embodiments, elemental sulfur may be used asfertilizer coating. The coating may be performed by spraying molten Sover urea granules, followed by an application of sealant wax to closefissures in the coating. In a further embodiment, the S layer may becovered with a layer of organic polymers, preferably a thin layer oforganic polymers.

Further envisaged coated fertilizers may be provided by reactingresin-based polymers on the surface of the fertilizer granule. A furtherexample of providing coated fertilizers includes the use of lowpermeability polyethylene polymers in combination with high permeabilitycoatings.

In specific embodiments the composition and/or thickness of thefertilizer coating may be adjusted to control, for example, the nutrientrelease rate for specific applications. The duration of nutrient releasefrom specific fertilizers may vary, e.g. from several weeks to manymonths. The presence of nitrification inhibitors in a mixture withcoated fertilizers may accordingly be adapted. It is, in particular,envisaged that the nutrient release involves or is accompanied by therelease of a nitrification inhibitor according to the present invention.

Coated fertilizers may be provided as controlled release fertilizers(CRFs). In specific embodiments these controlled release fertilizers arefully coated urea or N—P—K fertilizers, which are homogeneous and whichtypically show a pre-defined longevity of release. In furtherembodiments, the CRFs may be provided as blended controlled releasefertilizer products which may contain coated, uncoated and/or slowrelease components. In certain embodiments, these coated fertilizers mayadditionally comprise micronutrients. In specific embodiments thesefertilizers may show a pre-defined longevity, e.g. in case of N—P—Kfertilizers.

Additionally envisaged examples of CRFs include patterned releasefertilizers. These fertilizers typically show a pre-defined releasepatterns (e.g. hi/standard/lo) and a pre-defined longevity. In exemplaryembodiments fully coated N—P—K, Mg and micronutrients may be deliveredin a patterned release manner.

Also envisaged are double coating approaches or coated fertilizers basedon a programmed release.

In further embodiments the fertilizer mixture may be provided as, or maycomprise or contain a slow release fertilizer. The fertilizer may, forexample, be released over any suitable period of time, e.g. over aperiod of 1 to 5 months, preferably up to 3 months. Typical examples ofingredients of slow release fertilizers are IBDU (isobutylidenediurea),e.g. containing about 31-32% nitrogen, of which 90% is water insoluble;or UF, i.e. an urea-formaldehyde product which contains about 38%nitrogen of which about 70% may be provided as water insoluble nitrogen;or CDU (crotonylidene diurea) containing about 32% nitrogen; or MU(methylene urea) containing about 38 to 40% nitrogen, of which 25-60% istypically cold water insoluble nitrogen; or MDU (methylene diurea)containing about 40% nitrogen, of which less than 25% is cold waterinsoluble nitrogen; or MO (methylol urea) containing about 30% nitrogen,which may typically be used in solutions; or DMTU (diimethylene triurea)containing about 40% nitrogen, of which less than 25% is cold waterinsoluble nitrogen; or TMTU (tri methylene tetraurea), which may beprovided as component of UF products; or TMPU (tri methylene pentaurea),which may also be provided as component of UF products; or UT (ureatriazone solution) which typically contains about 28% nitrogen. Thefertilizer mixture may also be long-term nitrogen-bearing fertilizercontaining a mixture of acetylene diurea and at least one other organicnitrogen-bearing fertilizer selected from methylene urea, isobutylidenediurea, crotonylidene diurea, substituted triazones, triuret or mixturesthereof.

Any of the above mentioned fertilizers or fertilizer forms may suitablybe combined. For instance, slow release fertilizers may be provided ascoated fertilizers. They may also be combined with other fertilizers orfertilizer types. The same applies to the presence of a nitrificationinhibitor according to the present invention, which may be adapted tothe form and chemical nature of the fertilizer and accordingly beprovided such that its release accompanies the release of thefertilizer, e.g. is released at the same time or with the samefrequency. The present invention further envisages fertilizer orfertilizer forms as defined herein above in combination withnitrification inhibitors as defined herein above and further incombination with urease inhibitors as defined herein above. Suchcombinations may be provided as coated or uncoated forms and/or as slowor fast release forms. Preferred are combinations with slow releasefertilizers including a coating. In further embodiments, also differentrelease schemes are envisaged, e.g. a slower or a faster release.

The term “fertigation” as used herein refers to the application offertilizers, optionally soil amendments, and optionally otherwater-soluble products together with water through an irrigation systemto a plant or to the locus where a plant is growing or is intended togrow, or to a soil substituent as defined herein below. For example,liquid fertilizers or dissolved fertilizers may be provided viafertigation directly to a plant or a locus where a plant is growing oris intended to grow. Likewise, nitrification inhibitors according to thepresent invention, or in combination with additional nitrificationinhibitors, may be provided via fertigation to plants or to a locuswhere a plant is growing or is intended to grow. Fertilizers andnitrification inhibitors according to the present invention, or incombination with additional nitrification inhibitors, may be providedtogether, e.g. dissolved in the same charge or load of material(typically water) to be irrigated. In further embodiments, fertilizersand nitrification inhibitors may be provided at different points intime. For example, the fertilizer may be fertigated first, followed bythe nitrification inhibitor, or preferably, the nitrification inhibitormay be fertigated first, followed by the fertilizer. The time intervalsfor these activities follow the herein above outlined time intervals forthe application of fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors. Alsoenvisaged is a repeated fertigation of fertilizers and nitrificationinhibitors according to the present invention, either together orintermittently, e.g. every 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 2 days,3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days or more.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the fertilizer is anammonium-containing fertilizer.

The agrochemical mixture according to the present invention may compriseone fertilizer as defined herein above and one nitrification inhibitorof formula I as defined herein above. In further embodiments, theagrochemical mixture according to the present invention may comprise atleast one or more than one fertilizer as defined herein above, e.g. 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more different fertilizers (includinginorganic, organic and urea-containing fertilizers) and at least onenitrification inhibitor of formula I as defined herein above, preferablyone nitrification inhibitor of formula I selected from Table 1.

In another group of embodiments the agrochemical mixture according tothe present invention may comprise at least one or more than onenitrification inhibitor of formula I as defined herein above, preferablymore than one nitrification inhibitor of formula I selected from Table1, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more different nitrificationinhibitors as defined herein above or as provided in Table 1 and atleast one fertilizer as defined herein above.

The term “at least one” is to be understood as 1, 2, 3 or more of therespective compound selected from the group consisting of fertilizers asdefined herein above (also designated as compound A), and nitrificationinhibitors of formula I as defined herein above (also designated ascompound B).

In addition to at least one fertilizer and at least one nitrificationinhibitor as defined herein above, an agrochemical mixture may comprisefurther ingredients, compounds, active compounds or compositions or thelike. For example, the agrochemical mixture may additionally comprise orcomposed with or on the basis of a carrier, e.g. an agrochemicalcarrier, preferably as defined herein. In further embodiments, theagrochemical mixture may further comprise at least one pesticidalcompound. For example, the agrochemical mixture may additionallycomprise at least one herbicidal compound and/or at least one fungicidalcompound and/or at least one insecticidal compound.

In further embodiments, the agrochemical mixture may, in addition to theabove indicated ingredients, in particular in addition to thenitrification inhibitor of the compound of formula I and the fertilizer,further comprise alternative or additional nitrification inhibitors suchas linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, methyl p-coumarate, methylferulate, MHPP, Karanjin, brachialacton, p-benzoquinone sorgoleone,nitrapyrin, dicyandiamide (DCD), 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP),4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC), 1-amido-2-thiourea (ASU),2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM),5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,4-thiodiazole (terrazole),ammoniumthiosulfate (ATU), 3-methylpyrazol (3-MP), 3,5-dimethylpyrazole(DMP), 1,2,4-triazol and thiourea (TU) and/or sulfathiazole (ST),N-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)acetamides such asN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)acetamide, and/orN-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)formamides such asN-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl formamide,N-(4-chloro-3(5)-methyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, orN-(3(5),4-dimethyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for reducingnitrification, comprising treating a plant growing on soil and/or thelocus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with at leastone nitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. with annitrification inhibitor being a compound of formula I, or a derivativethereof, or a composition comprising said nitrification inhibitor.

The term “plant” is to be understood as a plant of economic importanceand/or men-grown plant. In certain embodiments, the term may also beunderstood as plants which have no or no significant economicimportance. The plant is preferably selected from agricultural,silvicultural and horticultural (including ornamental) plants. The termalso relates to genetically modified plants.

The term “plant” as used herein further includes all parts of a plantsuch as germinating seeds, emerging seedlings, plant propagules,herbaceous vegetation as well as established woody plants including allbelowground portions (such as the roots) and aboveground portions.

Within the context of the method for reducing nitrification it isassumed that the plant is growing on soil. In specific embodiments, theplant may also grow differently, e.g. in synthetic laboratoryenvironments or on soil substituents, or be supplemented with nutrients,water etc. by artificial or technical means. In such scenarios, theinvention envisages a treatment of the zone or area where the nutrients,water etc. are provided to the plant. Also envisaged is that the plantgrows in green houses or similar indoor facilities.

The term “locus” is to be understood as any type of environment, soil,soil substituent, area or material where the plant is growing orintended to grow. Preferably, the term relates to soil or soilsubstituent on which a plant is growing.

In one embodiment, the plant to be treated according to the method ofthe invention is an agricultural plant. “Agricultural plants” are plantsof which a part (e.g. seeds) or all is harvested or cultivated on acommercial scale or which serve as an important source of feed, food,fibers (e.g. cotton, linen), combustibles (e.g. wood, bioethanol,biodiesel, biomass) or other chemical compounds. Preferred agriculturalplants are for example cereals, e.g. wheat, rye, barley, triticale,oats, corn, sorghum or rice, beet, e.g. sugar beet or fodder beet;fruits, such as pomes, stone fruits or soft fruits, e.g. apples, pears,plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries,blackberries or gooseberries; leguminous plants, such as lentils, peas,alfalfa or soybeans; oil plants, such as rape, oil-seed rape, canola,linseed, mustard, olives, sunflowers, coconut, cocoa beans, castor oilplants, oil palms, ground nuts or soybeans; cucurbits, such as squashes,cucumber or melons; fiber plants, such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute;citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits or mandarins;vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots,onions, tomatoes, potatoes, cucurbits or paprika; lauraceous plants,such as avocados, cinnamon or camphor; energy and raw material plants,such as corn, soybean, rape, canola, sugar cane or oil palm; tobacco;nuts; coffee; tea; bananas; vines (table grapes and grape juice grapevines); hop; turf; natural rubber plants.

In a further embodiment, the plant to be treated according to the methodof the invention is a horticultural plant. The term “horticulturalplants” are to be understood as plants which are commonly used inhorticulture, e.g. the cultivation of ornamentals, vegetables and/orfruits. Examples for ornamentals are turf, geranium, pelargonia,petunia, begonia and fuchsia. Examples for vegetables are potatoes,tomatoes, peppers, cucurbits, cucumbers, melons, watermelons, garlic,onions, carrots, cabbage, beans, peas and lettuce and more preferablyfrom tomatoes, onions, peas and lettuce. Examples for fruits are apples,pears, cherries, strawberry, citrus, peaches, apricots and blueberries.

In a further embodiment, the plant to be treated according to the methodof the invention is an ornamental plant. “Ornamental plants” are plantswhich are commonly used in gardening, e.g. in parks, gardens and onbalconies. Examples are turf, geranium, pelargonia, petunia, begonia andfuchsia.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the plant to be treatedaccording to the method of the invention is a silvicultural plant. Theterm “silvicultural plant” is to be understood as trees, morespecifically trees used in reforestation or industrial plantations.Industrial plantations generally serve for the commercial production offorest products, such as wood, pulp, paper, rubber tree, Christmastrees, or young trees for gardening purposes. Examples for silviculturalplants are conifers, like pines, in particular Pinus spec., fir andspruce, eucalyptus, tropical trees like teak, rubber tree, oil palm,willow (Salix), in particular Salix spec., poplar (cottonwood), inparticular Populus spec., beech, in particular Fagus spec., birch, oilpalm, and oak.

The term “plant propagation material” is to be understood to denote allthe generative parts of the plant such as seeds and vegetative plantmaterial such as cuttings and tubers (e.g. potatoes), which can be usedfor the multiplication of the plant. This includes seeds, grains, roots,fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, cuttings, spores, offshoots, shoots,sprouts and other parts of plants, including seedlings and young plants,which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence fromsoil, meristem tissues, single and multiple plant cells and any otherplant tissue from which a complete plant can be obtained.

The term “genetically modified plants” is to be understood as plants,which genetic material has been modified by the use of recombinant DNAtechniques in a way that under natural circumstances it cannot readilybe obtained by cross breeding, mutations or natural recombination.Typically, one or more genes have been integrated into the geneticmaterial of a genetically modified plant in order to improve certainproperties of the plant. Such genetic modifications also include but arenot limited to targeted post-translational modification of protein(s),oligo- or polypeptides e.g. by glycosylation or polymer additions suchas prenylated, acetylated or famesylated moieties or PEG moieties.

Plants that have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or geneticengineering, e.g. have been rendered tolerant to applications ofspecific classes of herbicides, such as auxin herbicides such as dicambaor 2,4-D; bleacher herbicides such as hydroxylphenylpyruvate dioxygenase(HPPD) inhibitors or phytoene desaturase (PDS) inhibitors; acetolactatesynthase (ALS) inhibitors such as sulfonyl ureas or imidazolinones;enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) inhibitors, such asglyphosate; glutamine synthetase (GS) inhibitors such as glufosinate;protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors; lipid biosynthesis inhibitorssuch as acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors; or oxynil (i.e.bromoxynil or ioxynil) herbicides as a result of conventional methods ofbreeding or genetic engineering. Furthermore, plants have been maderesistant to multiple classes of herbicides through multiple geneticmodifications, such as resistance to both glyphosate and glufosinate orto both glyphosate and a herbicide from another class such as ALSinhibitors, HPPD inhibitors, auxin herbicides, or ACCase inhibitors.These herbicide resistance technologies are e.g. described in PestManagem. Sci. 61, 2005, 246; 61, 2005, 258; 61, 2005, 277; 61, 2005,269; 61, 2005, 286; 64, 2008, 326; 64, 2008, 332; Weed Sci. 57, 2009,108; Austral. J. Agricult. Res. 58, 2007, 708; Science 316, 2007, 1185;and references quoted therein. Several cultivated plants have beenrendered tolerant to herbicides by conventional methods of breeding(mutagenesis), e.g. Clearfield® summer rape (Canola, BASF SE, Germany)being tolerant to imidazolinones, e.g. imazamox, or ExpressSun®sunflowers (DuPont, USA) being tolerant to sulfonyl ureas, e.g.tribenuron. Genetic engineering methods have been used to rendercultivated plants such as soybean, cotton, corn, beets and rape,tolerant to herbicides such as glyphosate and glufosinate, some of whichare commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady®(glyphosate-tolerant, Monsanto, U.S.A.), Cultivance® (imidazolinonetolerant, BASF SE, Germany) and LibertyLink® (glufosinate-tolerant,Bayer CropScience, Germany).

Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinantDNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins,especially those known from the bacterial genus Bacillus, particularlyfrom Bacillus thuringiensis, such as δ-endotoxins, e.g. CryIA(b),CryIA(c), CryIF, CryIF(a2), CryIIA(b), CryIIIA, CryIIIB(b1) or Cry9c;vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIP), e.g. VIP1, VIP2, VIP3 or VIP3A;insecticidal proteins of bacteria colonizing nematodes, e.g.Photorhabdus spp. or Xenorhabdus spp.; toxins produced by animals, suchas scorpion toxins, arachnid toxins, wasp toxins, or otherinsect-specific neurotoxins; toxins produced by fungi, suchStreptomycetes toxins, plant lectins, such as pea or barley lectins;agglutinins; proteinase inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors, serineprotease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin or papain inhibitors;ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), such as ricin, maize-RIP, abrin,luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid metabolism enzymes, such as3-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-IDP-glycosyl-transferase,cholesterol oxidases, ecdysone inhibitors or HMG-CoA-reductase; ionchannel blockers, such as blockers of sodium or calcium channels;juvenile hormone esterase; diuretic hormone receptors (helicokininreceptors); stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinases orglucanases. In the context of the present invention these insecticidalproteins or toxins are to be understood expressly also as pre-toxins,hybrid proteins, truncated or otherwise modified proteins. Hybridproteins are characterized by a new combination of protein domains,(see, e.g. WO 02/015701). Further examples of such toxins or geneticallymodified plants capable of synthesizing such toxins are disclosed, e.g.,in EP-A 374 753, WO 93/007278, WO 95/34656, EP-A 427 529, EP-A 451 878,WO 03/18810 and WO 03/52073.

The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generallyknown to the person skilled in the art and are described, e.g. in thepublications mentioned above. These insecticidal proteins contained inthe genetically modified plants impart to the plants producing theseproteins tolerance to harmful pests from all taxonomic groups ofarthropods, especially to beetles (Coeloptera), two-winged insects(Diptera), and moths (Lepidoptera) and to nematodes (Nematoda).Genetically modified plants capable to synthesize one or moreinsecticidal proteins are, e.g., described in the publications mentionedabove, and some of which are commercially available such as YieldGard®(corn cultivars producing the Cry1Ab toxin), YieldGard® Plus (corncultivars producing Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1 toxins), Starlink® (corncultivars producing the Cry9c toxin), Herculex® RW (corn cultivarsproducing Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1 and the enzymephosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase [PAT]); NuCOTN® 33B (cottoncultivars producing the CrylAc toxin), Bollgard® I (cotton cultivarsproducing the Cry1Ac toxin), Bollgard® II (cotton cultivars producingCry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 toxins); VIPCOT® (cotton cultivars producing aVIP-toxin); NewLeaf® (potato cultivars producing the Cry3A toxin);Bt-Xtra®, NatureGard®, KnockOut®, BiteGard®, Protecta®, Bt11 (e.g.Agrisure® CB) and Bt176 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France, (corn cultivarsproducing the Cry1Ab toxin and PAT enyzme), MIR604 from Syngenta SeedsSAS, France (corn cultivars producing a modified version of the Cry3Atoxin, c.f. WO 03/018810), MON 863 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium(corn cultivars producing the Cry3Bb1 toxin), IPC 531 from MonsantoEurope S.A., Belgium (cotton cultivars producing a modified version ofthe Cry1Ac toxin) and 1507 from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Belgium(corn cultivars producing the Cry1F toxin and PAT enzyme).

Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinantDNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increasethe resistance or tolerance of those plants to bacterial, viral orfungal pathogens. Examples of such proteins are the so-called“pathogenesis-related proteins” (PR proteins, see, e.g. EP-A 392 225),plant disease resistance genes (e.g. potato cultivars, which expressresistance genes acting against Phytophthora infestans derived from theMexican wild potato Solanum bulbocastanum) or T4-lysozym (e.g. potatocultivars capable of synthesizing these proteins with increasedresistance against bacteria such as Erwinia amy/vora). The methods forproducing such genetically modified plants are generally known to theperson skilled in the art and are described, e.g. in the publicationsmentioned above.

Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinantDNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increasethe productivity (e.g. bio mass production, grain yield, starch content,oil content or protein content), tolerance to drought, salinity or othergrowth-limiting environmental factors or tolerance to pests and fungal,bacterial or viral pathogens of those plants.

Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use ofrecombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of substances of content ornew substances of content, specifically to improve human or animalnutrition, e.g. oil crops that produce health-promoting long-chainomega-3 fatty acids or unsaturated omega-9 fatty acids (e.g. Nexera®rape, DOW Agro Sciences, Canada).

Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use ofrecombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of substances of content ornew substances of content, specifically to improve raw materialproduction, e.g. potatoes that produce increased amounts of amylopectin(e.g. Amflora® potato, BASF SE, Germany).

The term “soil substituent” as used herein refers to a substrate whichis able to allow the growth of a plant and does not comprise usual soilingredients. This substrate is typically an anorganic substrate whichmay have the function of an inert medium. It may, in certainembodiments, also comprise organic elements or portions. Soilsubstituents may, for example, be used in hydroculture or hydroponicapproaches, i.e. wherein plants are grown in soilless medium and/oraquatic based environments. Examples of suitable soil substituents,which may be used in the context of the present invention, are perlite,gravel, biochar, mineral wool, coconut husk, phyllosilicates, i.e. sheetsilicate minerals, typically formed by parallel sheets of silicatetetrahedra with Si₂O₅ or a 2:5 ratio, or clay aggregates, in particularexpanded clay aggregates with a diameter of about 10 to 40 mm.Particularly preferred is the employment of vermiculite, i.e. aphyllosilicate with 2 tetrahedral sheets for every one octahedral sheetpresent.

The use of soil substituents may, in specific embodiments, be combinedwith fertigation or irrigation as defined herein.

In specific embodiments, the treatment may be carried out during allsuitable growth stages of a plant as defined herein. For example, thetreatment may be carried out during the BBCH principle growth stages.

The term “BBCH principal growth stage” refers to the extended BBCH-scalewhich is a system for a uniform coding of phenologically similar growthstages of all mono- and dicotyledonous plant species in which the entiredevelopmental cycle of the plants is subdivided into clearlyrecognizable and distinguishable longer-lasting developmental phases.The BBCH-scale uses a decimal code system, which is divided intoprincipal and secondary growth stages. The abbreviation BBCH derivesfrom the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry(Germany), the Bundessortenamt (Germany) and the chemical industry.

In one embodiment the invention relates to a method for reducingnitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soilsubstituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intendedto grow with at least one nitrification inhibitor as defined hereinabove, i.e. with a nitrification inhibitor being a compound of formulaI, or a derivative thereof at a growth stage (GS) between GS 00 andGS>BBCH 99 of the pant (e.g. when fertilizing in fall after harvestingapples) and preferably between GS 00 and GS 65 BBCH of the plant.

In one embodiment the invention relates to a method for reducingnitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soilsubstituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intendedto grow with at least one nitrification inhibitor as defined hereinabove, i.e. with a nitrification inhibitor being a compound of formulaI, or a derivative thereof at a growth stage (GS) between GS 00 to GS45, preferably between GS 00 and GS 40 BBCH of the plant.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to a method for reducingnitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soilsubstituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intendedto grow with at least one nitrification inhibitor as defined hereinabove, i.e. with a nitrification inhibitor being a compound of formulaI, or a derivative thereof at an early growth stage (GS), in particulara GS 00 to GS 05, or GS 00 to GS 10, or GS 00 to GS 15, or GS 00 to GS20, or GS 00 to GS 25 or GS 00 to GS 33 BBCH of the plant. Inparticularly preferred embodiments, the method for reducingnitrification comprises treating a plant growing on soil or soilsubstituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intendedto grow with at least one nitrification inhibitor as defined hereinabove during growth stages including GS 00.

In a further, specific embodiment of the invention, at least onenitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. a nitrificationinhibitor being a compound of formula I, or a derivative thereof isapplied to a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locuswhere the plant is growing or is intended to grow at a growth stagebetween GS 00 and GS 55 BBCH, or of the plant.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one nitrificationinhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. a nitrification inhibitor beinga compound of formula I, or a derivative thereof is applied to a plantgrowing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant isgrowing or is intended to grow at the growth stage between GS 00 and GS47 BBCH of the plant.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one nitrification inhibitoras defined herein above, i.e. a nitrification inhibitor being a compoundof formula I, or a derivative thereof is applied to a plant growing onsoil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing oris intended to grow before and at sowing, before emergence, and untilharvest (GS 00 to GS 89 BBCH), or at a growth stage (GS) between GS 00and GS 65 BBCH of the plant.

In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to a method for reducingnitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soilsubstituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing with at leastone nitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. with anitrification inhibitor being a compound of formula I, or a derivativethereof wherein the plant and/or the locus where plant is growing or isintended to grow is additionally provided with at least one fertilizer.The fertilizer may be any suitable fertilizer, preferably a fertilizeras defined herein above. Also envisaged is the application of more thanone fertilizer, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 fertilizers, or ofdifferent fertilizer classes or categories.

In specific embodiments of the invention, at least one nitrificationinhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. a nitrification inhibitor beinga compound of formula I, or a derivative thereof and at least onefertilizer is applied to a plant growing on soil or soil substituentsand/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow at agrowth stage between GS 00and GS 33 BBCH of the plant.

In specific embodiments of the invention, at least one nitrificationinhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. a nitrification inhibitor beinga compound of formula I, or a derivative thereof and at least onefertilizer is applied to a plant growing on soil or soil substituentsand/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow at agrowth stage between GS 00 and GS 55 BBCH of the plant.

In further specific embodiments of the invention, at least onenitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. a nitrificationinhibitor being a compound of formula I, or a derivative thereof and atleast one fertilizer is applied to a plant growing on soil or soilsubstituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intendedto grow at sowing, before emergence, or at a growth stage (GS) betweenGS 00 and GS>BBCH 99 of the pant (e.g. when fertilizing in fall afterharvesting apples) and preferably between GS 00 and 65 BBCH of theplant.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention theapplication of said nitrification inhibitor and of said fertilizer asdefined herein above is carried out simultaneously or with a time lag.The term “time lag” as used herein means that either the nitrificationinhibitor is applied before the fertilizer to the plant growing on soilor soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or isintended to grow; or the fertilizer is applied before the nitrificationinhibitor to the plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or thelocus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow. Such time lagmay be any suitable period of time which still allows to provide anitrification inhibiting effect in the context of fertilizer usage. Forexample, the time lag may be a time period of 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 12 days,13 days, 14 days, 3 weeks 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 7 weeks, 8 weeks, 9weeks, 10 weeks, 11 weeks, 12 weeks, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7months, 8 months, 9 months, 10 months or more or any time period inbetween the mentioned time periods. Preferably, the time lag is aninterval of 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks or 3 weeks. The timelag preferably refers to situations in which the nitrification inhibitoras defined above is provided 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 12 days, 13 days, 14days, 3 weeks 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 7 weeks, 8 weeks, 9 weeks, 10weeks, 11 weeks, 12 weeks, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8months, 9 months, 10 months or more or any time period in between thementioned time periods before the application of a fertilizer as definedherein above.

In another specific embodiment of the invention at least onenitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. a nitrificationinhibitor being a compound of formula I, or a derivative thereof isapplied between GS 00 to GS 33 BBCH of the plant, or between GS 00 andGS 65 BBCH of the plant, provided that the application of at least onefertilizer as defined herein above is carried out with a time lag of atleast 1 day, e.g. a time lag of 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 12 days, 13 days, 14days, 3 weeks 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 7 weeks, 8 weeks, 9 weeks, 10weeks, or more or any time period in between the mentioned time periods.It is preferred that the nitrification inhibitors, which is appliedbetween GS 00 to GS 33 BBCH of the plant, is provided 1 day, 2 days, 3days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days,12 days, 13 days, 14 days, 3 weeks 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 7 weeks, 8weeks, 9 weeks, 10 weeks, 11 weeks, or 12 weeks before the applicationof a fertilizer as defined herein above.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, at least one fertilizeras defined herein above is applied between GS 00 to GS 33 BBCH of theplant or between GS 00 and GS 65 BBCH of the plant, provided that theapplication of at least one nitrification inhibitor as defined hereinabove, i.e. of a nitrification inhibitor being a compound of formula I,or a derivative thereof, is carried out with a time lag of at least 1day, e.g. a time lag of 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 12 days, 13 days, 14 days, 3weeks 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 7 weeks, 8 weeks, 9 weeks, 10 weeks ormore or any time period in between the mentioned time periods.

According to a specific embodiment of the present invention a plantgrowing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant isgrowing or is intended to grow is treated at least once with anitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. with anitrification inhibitor being a compound of formula I, or a derivativethereof. In a further specific embodiment of the present invention aplant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where theplant is growing or is intended to grow is treated at least once with anitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, i.e. with anitrification inhibitor being a compound of formula I, or a derivativethereof, and at least once with a fertilizer as defined herein above.

The term “at least once” means that the application may be performed onetime, or several times, i.e. that a repetition of the treatment with anitrification inhibitor and/or a fertilizer may be envisaged. Such arepetition may a 2 times, 3 times, 4 times, 5 times, 6 times, 7 times, 8times, 9 times, 10 times or more frequent repetition of the treatmentwith a nitrification inhibitor and/or a fertilizer. The repetition oftreatment with a nitrification inhibitor and a fertilizer may further bedifferent. For example, while the fertilizer may be applied only once,the nitrification inhibitor may be applied 2 times, 3 times, 4 timesetc. Alternatively, while the nitrification inhibitor may be appliedonly once, the fertilizer may be applied 2 times, 3 times, 4 times etc.Further envisaged are all combination of numerical different numbers ofrepetitions for the application of a nitrification inhibitor and afertilizer as defined herein above.

Such a repeated treatment may further be combined with a time lagbetween the treatment of the nitrification inhibitor and the fertilizeras described above.

The time interval between a first application and second or subsequentapplication of a nitrification inhibitor and/or a fertilizer may be anysuitable interval. This interval may range from a few seconds up to 3months, e.g. from a few seconds up to 1 month, or from a few seconds upto 2 weeks. In further embodiments, the time interval may range from afew seconds up to 3 days or from 1 second up to 24 hours.

In further specific embodiments, a method for reducing nitrification asdescribed above is carried out by treating a plant growing on soil orsoil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or isintended to grow with at least one agrochemical mixture as definedherein above, or with a composition for reducing nitrification asdefined herein above.

In another embodiment of the invention, an agrochemical mixturecomprising an ammonium- or urea-containing fertilizer and at least onenitrification inhibitor as defined herein above is applied before and atsowing, before emergence, and until GS>BBCH 99 of the pant (e.g. whenfertilizing in fall after harvesting apples In case the agrochemicalmixture is provided as kit of parts or as non-physical mixture, it maybe applied with a time lag between the application of the nitrificationinhibitor and the fertilizer or between the application of thenitrification inhibitor a secondary or further ingredient, e.g. apesticidal compound as mentioned herein above.

In a further embodiment plant propagules are preferably treatedsimultaneously (together or separately) or subsequently.

The term “propagules” or “plant propagules” is to be understood todenote any structure with the capacity to give rise to a new plant, e.g.a seed, a spore, or a part of the vegetative body capable of independentgrowth if detached from the parent. In a preferred embodiment, the term“propagules” or “plant propagules” denotes for seed.

For a method as described above, or for a use according to theinvention, in particular for seed treatment and in furrow application,the application rates of nitrification inhibitors, i.e. of the compoundof formula I are between 0,01 g and 5 kg of active ingredient perhectare, preferably between 1 g and 1 kg of active ingredient perhectare, especially preferred between 50 g and 300 g of activeingredient per hectare depending on different parameters such as thespecific active ingredient applied and the plant species treated. In thetreatment of seed, amounts of from 0.001 g to 20 g per kg of seed,preferably from 0.01 g to 10 g per kg of seed, more preferably from 0.05to 2 g per kg of seed of nitrification inhibitors may be generallyrequired.

As a matter of course, if nitrification inhibitors and fertilizers (orother ingredients), or if mixtures thereof are employed, the compoundsmay be used in an effective and non-phytotoxic amount. This means thatthey are used in a quantity which allows to obtain the desired effectbut which does not give rise to any phytotoxic symptoms on the treatedplant or on the plant raised from the treated propagule or treated soilor soil substituents. For the use according to the invention, theapplication rates of fertilizers may be selected such that the amount ofapplied N is between 10 kg and 1000 kg per hectare, preferably between50 kg and 700 kg per hectare.

The nitrification inhibitor compounds according to the invention, e.g.compound I as defined herein above, or derivative thereof as definedherein above can be present in different structural or chemicalmodifications whose biological activity may differ. They are likewisesubject matter of the present invention.

The nitrification inhibitor compounds according to the invention, theirN-oxides and/or salts etc. may be converted into customary types ofcompositions, e.g. agrochemical or agricultural compositions such assolutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes and granules.

The composition type depends on the particular intended purpose; in eachcase, it should ensure a fine and uniform distribution of the compoundaccording to the invention. Examples for composition types aresuspensions (SC, 00, FS), emulsifiable concentrates (EC), emulsions (EW,EO, ES), microemulsions (ME), pastes, pastilles, wettable powders ordusts (WP, SP, SS, WS, OP, OS) or granules (GR, FG, GG, MG), which canbe watersoluble or wettable, as well as gel formulations for thetreatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds (GF). Usually thecomposition types (e.g. SC, 00, FS, EC, WG, SG, WP, SP, SS, WS, GF) areemployed diluted. Composition types such as OP, OS, GR, FG, GG and MGare usually used undiluted.

The compositions are prepared in a known manner (see, for example, U.S.Pat. No. 3,060,084, EP 707 445 (for liquid concentrates), Browning:“Agglomeration”, Chemical Engineering, Dec. 4, 1967, 147-48, Perry'sChemical Engineer's Handbook, 4th Ed., McGraw-Hili, New York, 1963, S.8-57 and ff. WO 91/13546, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,172,714, 4,144,050,3,920,442, 5,180,587, 5,232,701, 5,208,030, GB 2,095,558, 3,299,566,Klingman: Weed Control as a Science (J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 1961),Hance et al.: Weed Control Handbook (8th Ed., Blackwell Scientific,Oxford, 1989) and Mollet, H. and Grubemann, A.: Formulation technology(Wiley VCH Verlag, Weinheim, 2001). Compositions or mixtures may alsocomprise auxiliaries which are customary, for example, in agrochemicalcompositions. The auxiliaries used depend on the particular applicationform and active substance, respectively.

Examples for suitable auxiliaries are solvents, solid carriers,dispersants or emulsifiers (such as further solubilizers, protectivecolloids, surfactants and adhesion agents), organic and anorganicthickeners, bactericides, anti-freezing agents, anti-foaming agents, ifappropriate colorants and tackifiers or binders (e.g. for seed treatmentformulations). Suitable solvents are water, organic solvents such asmineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, such as keroseneor diesel oil, furthermore coal tar oils and oils of vegetable or animalorigin, aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. toluene,xylene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes or theirderivatives, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol andcyclohexanol, glycols, ketones such as cyclohexanone andgamma-butyrolactone, fatty acid dimethylamides, fatty acids and fattyacid esters and strongly polar solvents, e.g. amines such asN-methylpyrrolidone.

Suitable surfactants (adjuvants, wetters, tackifiers, dispersants oremulsifiers) are alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium saltsof aromatic sulfonic acids, such as ligninsoulfonic acid (Borresperse®types, Borregard, Norway) phenolsulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid(Morwet® types, Akzo Nobel, U.S.A.), dibutylnaphthalene-sulfonic acid(Nekal® types, BASF, GermanY), and fatty acids, alkylsulfonates,alkylarylsulfonates, alkyl sulfates, laurylether sulfates, fatty alcoholsulfates, and sulfated hexa-, hepta- and octadecanolates, sulfated fattyalcohol glycol ethers, furthermore condensates of naphthalene or ofnaphthalenesulfonic acid with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxy-ethyleneoctylphenyl ether, ethoxylated isooctylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol,alkylphenyl polyglycol ethers, tributylphenyl polyglycol ether,tristearylphenyl polyglycol ether, alkylaryl polyether alcohols, alcoholand fatty alcohol/ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil,polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, ethoxylated polyoxypropylene, laurylalcohol polyglycol ether acetal, sorbitol esters, lignin-sulfite wasteliquors and proteins, denatured proteins, polysaccharides (e.g.methylcellulose), hydrophobically modified starches, polyvinyl alcohols(Mowiol® types, Clariant, Switzerland), polycarboxylates (Sokolan®types, BASF, Germany), polyalkoxylates, polyvinylamines (Lupasol® types,BASF, Germany), polyvinylpyrrolidone and the copolymers thereof.Examples of suitable thickeners (i.e. compounds that impart a modifiedflowability to compositions, i.e. high viscosity under static conditionsand low viscosity during agitation) are polysaccharides and organic andanorganic clays such as Xanthan gum (Kelzan®, CP Kelco, U.S.A.),Rhodopol® 23 (Rhodia, France), Veegum® (R. T. Vanderbilt, U.S.A.) orAttaclay® (Engelhard Corp., NJ, USA).

In specific embodiments, bactericides may be added for preservation andstabilization of the composition. Examples for suitable bactericides arethose based on dichlorophene and benzyl alcohol hemi formal (Proxel®from ICI or Acticide® RS from Thor Chemie and Kathon® MK from Rohm &Haas) and isothiazolinone derivatives such as alkylisothiazolinones andbenzisothiazolinones (Acticide® MBS from Thor Chemie).

Examples for suitable anti-freezing agents are ethylene glycol,propylene glycol, urea and glycerin. Examples for anti-foaming agentsare silicone emulsions (such as e.g. Silikon® SRE, Wacker, Germany orRhodorsil®, Rhodia, France), long chain alcohols, fatty acids, salts offatty acids, fluoroorganic compounds and mixtures thereof.

Suitable colorants are pigments of low water solubility andwater-soluble dyes, e.g. rhodamin B, C. I. pigment red 112, C. I.solvent red 1, pigment blue 15:4, pigment blue 15:3, pigment blue 15:2,pigment blue 15: 1, pigment blue 80, pigment yellow 1, pigment yellow13, pigment red 112, pigment red 48:2, pigment red 48:1, pigment red57:1, pigment red 53:1, pigment orange 43, pigment orange 34, pigmentorange 5, pigment green 36, pigment green 7, pigment white 6, pigmentbrown 25, basic violet 10, basic violet 49, acid red 51, acid red 52,acid red 14, acid blue 9, acid yellow 23, basic red 10, basic red 108.

Furthermore odorous substances may be present in the compositions asdefined above. Such odorous substances comprise citronellynitril,citral, zertrahydrolinalool, tetrahydrogeraniol, geranonitril,beta-lonon R, rootanol, linalylacetat, morillol, and p-cresometylether.

Examples for tackifiers or binders are polyvinylpyrrolidons,polyvinylacetates, polyvinyl alcohols and cellulose ethers (Tylose®,Shin-Etsu, Japan).

Powders, materials for spreading and dusts can be prepared by mixing orconcomitantly grinding compound of formula I and, if appropriate,further active substances, with at least one solid carrier. Granules,e.g. coated granules, impregnated granules and homogeneous granules, canbe prepared by binding the active substances to solid carriers. Examplesof such suitable solid carriers are mineral earths such as silica gels,silicates, talc, kaolin, attaclay, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess,clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate,magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials, fertilizers, such as, e.g.ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas, andproducts of vegetable origin, such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, woodmeal and nutshell meal, cellulose powders and other solid carriers.

Examples for composition types are:

i) Water-soluble concentrates (SL, LS) 10 parts by weight of anitrification inhibitor such as a compound of formula I according to theinvention are dissolved in 90 parts by weight of water or in awater-soluble solvent. As an alternative, wetting agents or otherauxiliaries are added. The active substance dissolves upon dilution withwater. In this way, a composition having a content of 10% by weight ofactive substance is obtained.

ii) Dispersible concentrates (DC) 20 parts by weight of a nitrificationinhibitor such as a compound of formula I according to the invention aredissolved in 70 parts by weight of cyclohexanone with addition of 10parts by weight of a dispersant, e.g. polyvinylpyrrolidone. Dilutionwith water gives a dispersion. The active substance content is 20% byweight.

iii) Emulsifiable concentrates (EC) 15 parts by weight of anitrification inhibitor such as a compound of formula I according to theinvention are dissolved in 75 parts by weight of xylene with addition ofcalcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case5 parts by weight). Dilution with water gives an emulsion. Thecomposition has an active substance content of 15% by weight.

iv) Emulsions (EW, EO, ES) 25 parts by weight of a nitrificationinhibitor such as a compound of formula I according to the invention aredissolved in 35 parts by weight of xylene with addition of calciumdodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case 5 partsby weight). This mixture is introduced into 30 parts by weight of waterby means of an emulsifying machine (Ultraturrax) and made into ahomogeneous emulsion. Dilution with water gives an emulsion. Thecomposition has an active substance content of 25% by weight.

v) Suspensions (SC, 00, FS) In an agitated ball mill, 20 parts by weightof a nitrification inhibitor such as a compound of formula I accordingto the invention are comminuted with addition of 10 parts by weight ofdispersants and wetting agents and 70 parts by weight of water or anorganic solvent to give a fine active substance suspension. Dilutionwith water gives a stable suspension of the active substance. The activesubstance content in the composition is 20% by weight.

vi) Water-dispersible granules and water-soluble granules (WG, SG) 50parts by weight of a nitrification inhibitor such as a compound offormula I according to the invention are ground finely with addition of50 parts by weight of dispersants and wetting agents and prepared aswater-dispersible or water-soluble granules by means of technicalappliances (e.g. extrusion, spray tower, fluidized bed). Dilution withwater gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active substance. Thecomposition has an active substance content of 50% by weight.

vii) Water-dispersible powders and water-soluble powders (WP, SP, SS,WS) 75 parts by weight of a nitrification inhibitor such as a compoundof formula I according to the invention are ground in a rotor-statormill with addition of 25 parts by weight of dispersants, wetting agentsand silica gel. Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion orsolution of the active substance. The active substance content of thecomposition is 75% by weight.

viii) Gel (GF) In an agitated ball mill, 20 parts by weight of anitrification inhibitor such as a compound of formula I according to theinvention are comminuted with addition of 10 parts by weight ofdispersants, 1 part by weight of a gelling agent wetters and 70 parts byweight of water or of an organic solvent to give a fine suspension ofthe active substance. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension ofthe active substance, whereby a composition with 20% (w/w) of activesubstance is obtained. 2. Composition types to be applied undiluted

ix) Oustable powders (OP, OS) 5 parts by weight of a nitrificationinhibitor such as a compound of formula I according to the invention areground finely and mixed intimately with 95 parts by weight of finelydivided kaolin. This gives a dustable composition having an activesubstance content of 5% by weight.

x) Granules (GR, FG, GG, MG) 0.5 parts by weight of a nitrificationinhibitor such as a compound of formula I according to the invention isground finely and associated with 99.5 parts by weight of carriers.Current methods are extrusion, spray-drying or the fluidized bed. Thisgives granules to be applied undiluted having an active substancecontent of 0.5-10% by weight, preferably an active substance content of0.5-2% by weight.

xi) ULV solutions (UL) 10 parts by weight of a nitrification inhibitorsuch as a compound of formula I according to the invention are dissolvedin 90 parts by weight of an organic solvent, e.g. xylene. This gives acomposition to be applied undiluted having an active substance contentof 10% by weight.

The compositions, e.g. agrochemical or agricultural compostions,generally comprise between 0.01 and 95%, preferably between 0.1 and 90%,most preferably between 0.5 and 90%, by weight of active substance. Theactive substances are employed in a purity of from 90% to 100%,preferably from 95% to 100% (according to NMR spectrum).

Water-soluble concentrates (LS), flowable concentrates (FS), powders fordry treatment (OS), water-dispersible powders for slurry treatment (WS),water-soluble powders (SS), emulsions (ES) emulsifiable concentrates(EC) and gels (GF) are usually employed for the purposes of treatment ofplant propagation materials, particularly seeds.

These compositions can be applied to plant propagation materials,particularly seeds, diluted or undiluted.

The compositions in question give, after two-to-tenfold dilution, activesubstance concentrations of from 0.01 to 60% by weight, preferably from0.1 to 40% by weight, in the ready-to-use preparations. Application canbe carried out before or during sowing.

Methods for applying or treating agrochemical or agricultural compoundsor mixtures, or compositions as defined herein, respectively, on toplant propagation material, especially seeds, the plant and/or the locuswhere the plant is growing or intended to grow are known in the art, andinclude dressing, coating, pelleting, dusting, soaking and in-furrowapplication methods of the propagation material. In a preferredembodiment, the compounds or the compositions thereof, respectively, areapplied on to the plant propagation material by a method such thatgermination is not induced, e.g. by seed dressing, pelleting, coatingand dusting.

In a preferred embodiment, a suspension-type (FS) composition may beused. Typically, a FS composition may comprise 1-800 g/I of activesubstance, 1 200 g/I surfactant, o to 200 g/I anti-freezing agent, 0 to400 g/I of binder, 0 to 200 g/I of a pigment and up to 1 liter of asolvent, preferably water.

The active substances can be used as such or in the form of theircompositions, e.g. in the form of directly sprayable solutions, powders,suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dustableproducts, materials for spreading, or granules, by means of spraying,atomizing, dusting, spreading, brushing, immersing or pouring.

The application forms depend entirely on the intended purposes; it isintended to ensure in each case the finest possible distribution of theactive substances according to the invention. Aqueous application formscan be prepared from emulsion concentrates, pastes or wettable powders(sprayable powders, oil dispersions) by adding water.

To prepare emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions, the substances, as suchor dissolved in an oil or solvent, can be homogenized in water by meansof a wetter, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier. Alternatively, it ispossible to prepare concentrates composed of active substance, wetter,tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier and, if appropriate, solvent or oil,and such concentrates are suitable for dilution with water.

The active substance concentrations in the ready-to-use preparations canbe varied within relatively wide ranges. In general, they are from0.0001 to 90%, such as from 30 to 80%, e.g. from 35 to 45% or from 65 to75% by weight of active substance. The active substances may also beused successfully in the ultra-low-volume process (ULV), it beingpossible to apply compositions comprising over 95% by weight of activesubstance, or even to apply the active substance without additives.

Various types of oils, wetters, adjuvants, herbicides, bactericides,other fungicides and/or pesticides may be added to the active substancesor the compositions comprising them, if appropriate not untilimmediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be admixed withthe compositions according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1:100to 100:1, preferably 1:10 to 10:1.

Adjuvants which can be used are in particular organic modifiedpolysiloxanes such as Break Thru S 240®; alcohol alkoxylates such asAtplus 245®, Atplus MBA 1303®, Plurafac LF 300® and Lutensol ON 30®;EO/PO block polymers, e.g. Pluronic RPE 2035® and Genapol B®; alcoholethoxylates such as Lutensol XP 80®; and dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodiumsuch as Leophen RA®.

In a further aspect the invention relates to a method for treating afertilizer or a composition. This treatment includes the application ofa nitrification inhibitor which is a compound of formula I as definedherein above to a fertilizer or a composition. The treatment mayaccordingly result in the presence of said nitrification inhibitor in apreparation of fertilizers or other compositions. Such treatment may,for example, result in a homogenous distribution of nitrificationinhibitors on or in fertilizer preparations. Treatment processes areknown to the skilled person and may include, for instance, dressing,coating, pelleting, dusting or soaking. In a specific embodiment, thetreatment may be a coating of nitrification inhibitors with fertilizerpreparations, or a coating of fertilizers with nitrification inhibitors.The treatment may be based on the use of granulation methods as known tothe skilled person, e.g. fluidized bed granulation. The treatment may,in certain embodiments, be performed with a composition comprising thenitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, e.g. comprising besidesthe inhibitor a carrier or a pesticide or any other suitable additionalcompound as mentioned above.

In a further specific embodiment, the present invention relates to amethod for treating seed or plant propagation material. The term “seedtreatment” as used herein refers to or involves steps towards thecontrol of biotic stresses on or in seed and the improvement of shootingand development of plants from seeds. For seed treatment it is evidentthat a plant suffering from biotic stresses such as fungal orinsecticidal attack or which has difficulties obtaining sufficientsuitable nitrogen-sources shows reduced germination and emergenceleading to poorer plant or crop establishment and vigor, andconsequently, to a reduced yield as compared to a plant propagationmaterial which has been subjected to curative or preventive treatmentagainst the relevant pest and which can grow without the damage causedby the biotic stress factor. Methods for treating seed or plantpropagation material according to the invention thus lead, among otheradvantages, to an enhanced plant health, a better protection againstbiotic stresses and an increased plant yield.

Seed treatment methods for applying or treating inventive mixtures andcompositions thereof, e.g. compositions or agrochemical compositions asdefined herein above, and in particular combinations of nitrificationinhibitors as defined herein above and secondary effectors such aspesticides, in particular fungicides, insecticides, and/or nematicides,to plant propagation material, especially seeds, are known in the art,and include dressing, coating, filmcoating, pelleting and soakingapplication methods of the propagation material. Such methods are alsoapplicable to the combinations or compositions according to theinvention.

In further embodiments, the treatment of seeds is performed withcompositions comprising, besides a nitrification inhibitor according tothe present invention, e.g. compositions as defined herein above, afungicide and an insecticide, or a fungicide and a nematicide, or aninsecticide and a nematicide, or a combination of a fungicide,insecticide and nematicide, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the agricultural composition or combinationcomprising a nitrification inhibitor according to the present invention,e.g. as defined herein above, is applied or treated on to the plantpropagation material by a method such that the germination is notnegatively impacted. Accordingly, examples of suitable methods forapplying (or treating) a plant propagation material, such as a seed, isseed dressing, seed coating or seed pelleting and alike. It is preferredthat the plant propagation material is a seed, seed piece (i.e. stalk)or seed bulb.

Although it is believed that the present method can be applied to a seedin any physiological state, it is preferred that the seed be in asufficiently durable state that it incurs no damage during the treatmentprocess. Typically, the seed would be a seed that had been harvestedfrom the field; removed from the plant; and separated from any cob,stalk, outer husk, and surrounding pulp or other non-seed plantmaterial. The seed would preferably also be biologically stable to theextent that the treatment would cause no biological damage to the seed.It is believed that the treatment can be applied to the seed at any timebetween harvest of the seed and sowing of the seed or during the sowingprocess (seed directed applications). The seed may also be primed eitherbefore or after the treatment.

Even distribution of the ingredients in compositions or mixtures asdefined herein and adherence thereof to the seeds is desired duringpropagation material treatment. Treatment could vary from a thin film(dressing) of the formulation containing the combination, for example, amixture of active ingredient(s), on a plant propagation material, suchas a seed, where the original size and/or shape are recognizable to anintermediary state (such as a coating) and then to a thicker film (suchas pelleting with many layers of different materials (such as carriers,for example, clays; different formulations, such as of other activeingredients; polymers; and colorants) where the original shape and/orsize of the seed is no longer recognizable.

An aspect of the present invention includes application of thecomposition, e.g. agricultural composition or combination comprising anitrification inhibitor according to the present invention, e.g. asdefined herein above, onto the plant propagation material in a targetedfashion, including positioning the ingredients in the combination ontothe entire plant propagation material or on only parts thereof,including on only a single side or a portion of a single side. One ofordinary skill in the art would understand these application methodsfrom the description provided in EP954213B1 and WO06/112700.

The composition, e.g. agricultural composition or combination comprisinga nitrification inhibitor according to the present invention, e.g. asdefined herein above, can also be used in form of a “pill” or “pellet”or a suitable substrate and placing, or sowing, the treated pill, orsubstrate, next to a plant propagation material. Such techniques areknown in the art, particularly in EP1124414, WO07/67042, and WO07/67044.Application of the composition, e.g. agricultural composition, orcombination comprising a nitrification inhibitor according to thepresent invention, e.g. as defined herein above, onto plant propagationmaterial also includes protecting the plant propagation material treatedwith the combination of the present invention by placing one or morepesticide- and nitrification inhibitor (NI)-containing particles next toa pesticide- and NI-treated seed, wherein the amount of pesticide issuch that the pesticide-treated seed and the pesticide-containingparticles together contain an Effective Dose of the pesticide and thepesticide dose contained in the pesticide-treated seed is less than orequal to the Maximal Non-Phytotoxic Dose of the pesticide. Suchtechniques are known in the art, particularly in WO2005/120226.

Application of the combinations onto the seed also includes controlledrelease coatings on the seeds, wherein the ingredients of thecombinations are incorporated into materials that release theingredients over time. Examples of controlled release seed treatmenttechnologies are generally known in the art and include polymer films,waxes, or other seed coatings, wherein the ingredients may beincorporated into the controlled release material or applied betweenlayers of materials, or both.

Seed can be treated by applying thereto the compound s present in theinventive mixtures in any desired sequence or simultaneously.

The seed treatment occurs to an unsown seed, and the term “unsown seed”is meant to include seed at any period between the harvest of the seedand the sowing of the seed in the ground for the purpose of germinationand growth of the plant.

Treatment to an unsown seed is not meant to include those practices inwhich the active ingredient is applied to the soil or soil substituentsbut would include any application practice that would target the seedduring the planting process.

Preferably, the treatment occurs before sowing of the seed so that thesown seed has been pre-treated with the combination. In particular, seedcoating or seed pelleting are preferred in the treatment of thecombinations according to the invention. As a result of the treatment,the ingredients in each combination are adhered on to the seed andtherefore available for pest control.

The treated seeds can be stored, handled, sowed and tilled in the samemanner as any other active ingredient treated seed.

Solutions for seed treatment (LS), suspoemulsions (SE), flowableconcentrates (FS), powders for dry treatment (DS), water-dispersiblepowders for slurry treatment (WS), water-soluble powders (SS), emulsions(ES), emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and gels (GF) are usually employedfor the purposes of treatment of plant propagation materials,particularly seeds. Preferred examples of seed treatment formulationtypes or soil application for pre-mix compositions are of WS, LS, ES,FS, WG or CS-type.

The compositions in question give, after two-to-tenfold dilution, activecomponents concentrations of from 0.01 to 60% by weight, preferably from0.1 to 40%, in the ready-to-use preparations. Application can be carriedout before or during sowing. Methods for applying or treatingcompositions or combinations comprising a nitrification inhibitoraccording to the present invention, e.g. as defined herein above on toplant propagation material, especially seeds include dressing, coating,pelleting, dusting, soaking and in-furrow application methods of thepropagation material. Preferably, compositions or combinationscomprising a nitrification inhibitor according to the present invention,e.g. as defined herein above are applied on to the plant propagationmaterial by a method such that germination is not induced, e.g. by seeddressing, pelleting, coating and dusting.

Typically, a pre-mix formulation for seed treatment applicationcomprises 0.5 to 99.9 percent, especially 1 to 95 percent, of thedesired ingredients, and 99.5 to 0.1 percent, especially 99 to 5percent, of a solid or liquid adjuvant (including, for example, asolvent such as water), where the auxiliaries can be a surfactant in anamount of 0 to 50 percent, especially 0.5 to 40 percent, based on thepre-mix formulation. Whereas commercial products will preferably beformulated as concentrates (e.g., pre-mix composition (formulation), theend user will normally employ dilute formulations (e.g. tank mixcomposition).

When employed in plant protection, the total amounts of activecomponents applied are, depending on the kind of effect desired, from0.001 to 10 kg per ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2 kg per ha, morepreferably from 0.05 to 0.9 kg per ha, in particular from 0.1 to 0.75 kgper ha. The application rates may range from about 1×10⁶ to 5×10¹⁵ (ormore) CFU/ha. Preferably, the spore concentration is about 1×10⁷ toabout 1×10¹¹ CFU/ha. In the case of (entomopathogenic) nematodes asmicrobial pesticides (e.g. Steinernema feltiae), the application ratespreferably range inform about 1×10⁵ to 1×10¹² (or more), more preferablyfrom 1×10⁸ to 1×10¹¹, even more preferably from 5×10⁸ to 1×10¹⁰individuals (e.g. in the form of eggs, juvenile or any other livestages, preferably in an infective juvenile stage) per ha.

When employed in plant protection by seed treatment, the amount ofcompositions or combinations comprising a nitrification inhibitoraccording to the present invention, e.g. as defined herein above (basedon total weight of active components) is in the range from 0.01-10 kg,preferably from 0.1-1000 g, more preferably from 1-100 g per 100kilogram of plant propagation material (preferably seeds). Theapplication rates with respect to plant propagation material preferablymay range from about 1×10⁶ to 1×10¹² (or more) CFU/seed. Preferably, theconcentration is about 1×10⁶ to about 1×10¹¹ CFU/seed. Alternatively,the application rates with respect to plant propagation material mayrange from about 1×10⁷ to 1×10¹⁴ (or more) CFU per 100 kg of seed,preferably from 1×10⁹ to about 1×10¹¹ CFU per 100 kg of seed.

The following example is provided for illustrative purposes. It is thusunderstood that the example is not to be construed as limiting. Theskilled person in the art will clearly be able to envisage furthermodifications of the principles laid out herein.

EXAMPLES Example 1

The compounds of the invention have been tested as follows in terms ofthe inhibition of nitrification:

Soil was sampled fresh from a field (e.g. Limburgerhof), dried andsieved through a 500 μm sieve. Approximately 200 mg of soil were placedinto each well of a 48 well plate. Compounds, or DMSO alone, were addedat a concentration of 10 ppm, dissolved in 1% DMSO. 6 μmol ammoniumsulfate was added per well as well as 4.8 mg NaClO₃.

Subsequently, the samples were incubated at room temperature for up to72 hrs. After the incubation period 64 mg KCl were added and mixed. 25μl of the supernatant were placed into a fresh plate and 260 μl of acolor reaction solution (from Merck Nr 1.11799.0100) were added.Measurements were taken with a Tecan plate Reader at 540 nm wavelength.

The results of the measurements (with a dose of 10 ppm) were that allcompounds 1-1 to 1-22 as shown in Table 1 above, supra demonstrated aninhibition of ≥10% compared to a control (DMSO only). Futhermore, thecompounds 1-23 to 1-33 as shown in Table 1 above (with a dose of 5±1ppm), supra demonstrated an inhibition of 15% compared to a control(DMSO only). Inhibition is calculated as x=% activity compared tocontrol, and converted to 100-x to give the value of inhibition, ratherthan activity.

Example 1.1

The results for the compounds tested with a dose of 10 ppm are providedin the following Table 1.1. In each case, the best inhibition value (IN)obtained for a compound is provided.

TABLE 1.1 No. Compound IN 1-1

15 1-2

48 1-3

11 1-4

15 1-5

27 1-6

10 1-7

11 1-8

57 1-9

20 1-10

14 1-11

12 1-12

15 1-13

10 1-14

56 1-15

58 1-16

11 1-17

10 1-18

10 1-19

15 1-20

10 1-21

20 1-22

11

Comparative Example 1.2

For comparative purposes phenylacetylene was tested under the sameconditions as outlined above with a dose of 10 ppm. The followinginhibition value was obtained.

TABLE 1.2 Comp. Ex.1.2 Structure IN Phenylacetylene

7

Example 1.3

The results for the compounds tested with a dose of 5±1 ppm are providedin the following Table 1.3. In each case, the best inhibition value (IN)obtained for a compound is provided.

TABLE 1.3 No. Compound IN 1-23

18 1-24

18 1-25

87 1-26

69 1-27

59 1-28

88 1-29

37 1-30

25 1-31

18 1-32

53 1-33

24

The invention claimed is:
 1. An agrochemical mixture comprising: (i) atleast one fertilizer selected from the group consisting of a solid orliquid ammonium-containing inorganic fertilizer; a solid or liquidorganic fertilizer selected from the group consisting of liquid manure,semi-liquid manure, biogas manure, stable manure, straw manure, wormcastings, compost, seaweed or guano; and a urea-containing fertilizer;and (ii) at least one compound of formula (I)

selected from a compound of formula (1-8), a compound of formula (1-15):


2. A method for reducing nitrification, comprising treating locus orsoil or soil substituents where a plant is growing or is intended togrow with a compound of formula (I)

selected from a compound of formula (1-8), a compound of formula (1-15):

wherein: the plant and/or the locus or soil or soil substituents wherethe plant is growing or is intended to grow is additionally providedwith a fertilizer; and the fertilizer is selected from the groupconsisting of a solid or liquid ammonium-containing inorganicfertilizer; a solid or liquid organic fertilizer selected from the groupconsisting of liquid manure, semi-liquid manure, biogas manure, stablemanure, straw manure, worm castings, compost, seaweed or guano; and aurea-containing fertilizer.
 3. The method of claim 2, comprisingapplying the compound of formula (I) and the and of said fertilizersimultaneously or with a time lag.
 4. The method of claim 2, whereinsaid plant is an agricultural plant selected from the group consistingof wheat, barley, oat, rye, soybean, corn, potatoes, oilseed rape,canola, sunflower, cotton, sugar cane, sugar beet, and rice; a vegetableplant selected from the group consisting of spinach, lettuce, asparagus,cabbages, and sorghum; a silvicultural plant; an ornamental plant; or ahorticultural plant, each in its natural or in a genetically modifiedform.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the compound of formula (I) isapplied as a composition comprising the compound of formula (I) and acarrier.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the compound of formula (I)is applied as a composition comprising (i) at least one fertilizer; and(ii) at least one compound formula (I).
 7. The method of claim 3,comprising applying the compound of formula (I) and the fertilizer witha time lag selected from the group consisting of of 1 day, 2 days, 3days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks.
 8. The agrochemical mixture of claim1, wherein said fertilizer is a solid or liquid ammonium-containinginorganic fertilizer selected from the group consisting of an NPKfertilizer, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfatenitrate, ammonium sulfate or ammonium phosphate.
 9. The agrochemicalmixture of claim 1, wherein said fertilizer is a urea-containingfertilizer selected from the group consisting of urea, formaldehydeurea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution, urea sulphur, stabilizedurea, urea based NPK-fertilizers, or urea ammonium sulfate.
 10. Themethod of claim 2, wherein said fertilizer is a solid or liquidammonium-containing inorganic fertilizer selected from the groupconsisting of an NPK fertilizer, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammoniumnitrate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, ammonium sulfate or ammoniumphosphate.
 11. The method of claim 2, wherein said fertilizer is aurea-containing fertilizer selected from the group consisting of urea,formaldehyde urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution, urea sulphur,stabilized urea, urea based NPK-fertilizers, or urea ammonium sulfate.